I’m not ready to make a decision on who or how to publish my novel. However, years ago while looking at publishing a picture book, I investigated some of the SPSCs, including Author House. This information is the kind you want to save, even if you’re not quite ready for publication. Thanks to A Writer’s Path for sharing this valuable guest post by Helen Sedwick.
Writing
Put Discipline into Your Daily Writing Schedule
As many of you know, if you read my post, Are Squirrels Interfering With Your Writing Routine? It is difficult for me to stick to a daily writing schedule. I won’t rehash the reasons (you can see some of them in the post). Suffice it to say, some days I’m disciplined, other days I’m like a thirteen year old girl with her mind on everything but her homework. And don’t get me started on how a retired husband fits into the equation.
So, in an attempt to become more disciplined and inspired by my sister, Jean Cogdell @jeans writing, I’ve decided to participate in Jeff Goins 500 Words 31Day Challenge. The challenge started yesterday and I wrote a story, Maggie’s New Beginning (Check it out) the (terribleminds) Flash Fiction Challenge (Chuck Wendig).
Day 2
I’m announcing so you and the other participants can help keep me honest and on track. Feel free to give me a nudge. The fun part of this challenge is there’s no theme. The purpose is to help you become disciplined to write at least 500 words a day. Some days, I will share writing tips and resources. Other days, I’ll share excerpts from my work in progress or a flash fiction piece.
For those interested in participating, here are the rules:
- Write 500 words per day, every day for 31 days.
- You can write more if you want, but 500 words is the minimum.
- Don’t edit. Just write.
- If you miss a day, pick up where you left off. Don’t make up for lost days.
- Encourage, don’t criticize (unless explicitly invited to do so).
- Blogging counts, but email does not.
- All of this is completely free.
I gotta say, the “don’t edit” rule kinda makes me nervous. So expect to see an errant comma or two (I’m a bit of a comma whore) or a few passive sentences. I’m also a was whore as I tend to write as I talk; although, those who know me would never call me passive (ask them). Whatever I share I hope you will be kind in your comments and please do comment. I love feedback, even when it hurts.
How to be Successful in keeping a Daily Schedule
1. Set your alarm and get up an hour earlier. If you’re like me, you won’t need an alarm clock. I’m up every day before 6 am.
2. Set aside uninterrupted time to write. For me, that’s those early morning hours. Once my husband’s feet hit the floor, all bets are off. Which brings me to the next suggestion.
3. Tell your family (retired husbands included) the time frame you are not to be disturbed. If a large chunk of time is too difficult, set aside increments of time. For some, you may need to place a do not disturb sign on your door, send your kids to Grandmas or locking them out of the house (make sure they have plenty of water, it’s hot as Hades). As for the husband, can’t help you too much, keeping mine occupied is all I can handle.
4. Plan for the next day.
5. Spend at least a portion of your time brainstorming for topics.
I’ll leave you with this quote of inspiration:
“If you only write when inspired, you may be a fairly decent poet, but you’ll never be a novelist.” Neil Gaiman
Do you have a daily writing schedule? How do you do it? I’d love to hear from you. You can follow me on Facebook at SheilaMGood and Twitter @cofcmom
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Maggie’s New Beginning
FLASH FICTION CHALLENGE: THE DEAD BODY (Dead bodies: they do a story good.)
Maggie’s New Beginning
“I’ll be God damned.” Maggie’s head fell against the pillow; her chest burned from the effort of pounding her fists on the sweaty mass pinning her in place. “Dammit, dammit, dammit.” She’d heard of dead weight, but this was ridiculous. What the hell was she thinking bedding his fat ass? Thanks to him, her dream of wallowing in a bed full of money had disappeared with a grunt and a snort. She squirmed underneath the weight of his bulk and struggled to breathe as the cold stones dug into her neck.
His arm fell off the side of the bed giving her a glance of the room and a teasing chance to breathe. She maneuvered a leg free, dug her heel into the side of the mattress, and pulled. The muscles in her calf screamed as she tucked her head under his flaccid arm, clawing for the edge of the bed until her whole body shook. The pungent odor of his armpit struck her across the face like a brick and she fell back gasping for air. “Jesus Fred, ever heard of deodorant? “
*
He handed the maid a wad of bills when they arrived and told her to take the rest of the week off with her family. Juanita would be in for a hell of a surprise come Monday. Everybody would gawk and whisper. Anger turned to horror as Maggie realized she’d be the subject of jeers, rumors, and half-truths. How the hell did she end up here?
*
Fred came into the jewelry store, where she worked, looking for an anniversary gift for his wife. Maggie noticed the Armani suit and Rolex watch and nudged her co-worker out of the way, “I’ll take this one, “she said, giving him her most winning smile. Round and soft, he looked like just the ticket to offer her a way out, way up and a new beginning. An hour later, he walked out of the store with a $10,000 diamond necklace for his wife and a hankering for her.
At the time, Maggie didn’t worry about the wife or what Armani was hiding. All she saw were dollar signs and a new future. She played hard reeling him in like a flopping fish on a taut line. Her commission check grew with each visit and she wondered if the shower of glittering gifts surprised his wife, Nicole. He’d dropped her name on his third trip to the store. It had taken two months before Maggie discovered Fred gave his wife and a friend a trip to Europe for their anniversary and saved the jewels for her.
*
Last night, when Fred slipped the necklace around her neck, she lost all reason. “You’ll get the others later,” he said, nibbling her ear. She let his hands roam. As her dress slipped to the floor, she closed her eyes and imagined the body pressing into hers belonged to Brad Pitt. Visions of fur coats, diamonds, and exotic trips filled her mind. Ribboned boxes taunted her from across the room, where they sat unopened on his wife’s dressing table. Her mom always said, “You can do anything for a short time if the payoff’s worth it.”
It became Maggie’s motto. But, when he crawled on top of her with his fat, soft body, sweating like a pig, she almost balked. Instead, she fantasized about Brad, the Caribbean Islands and waited for it to be over. She figured it wouldn’t take long and it didn’t. The loud grunt, and stiffing of his body brought her back to reality. A swoosh of alcohol-laced breath escaped from him like air from a balloon and he collapsed pinning her to the bed. A deadly silence descended. Maggie waited for him to say something or move. “Fred?” She lay still and listened. “Fred?” Easing her hand to the side of his neck, she felt for a pulse. “God dammit, Fred!”
She pushed, punched, and cursed to no avail. The sweat from their naked bodies turned to super glue and slowly, the realization of her fate dawned on Maggie. She wasn’t going anywhere. By the time the maid found them, she’d be nothing more than an afterthought, a greasy spot underneath some rich, hairy ass, cheating bastard.
Not exactly, the new beginning she had in mind.
Day 1
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Are Squirrels Interfering With Your Writing Routine?
Lord have mercy, the squirrels are loose in Lyman! No, I don’t mean the nut-gathering, fluffy-tail kind. I’m talking about the partying kind. And, they’re having the time of their lives running amok in my brain.
Each morning I sit down intending to write on my novel, blog, or make notes on the story idea that came to me in the middle of the night.
Yet, somewhere between my butt hitting the chair and that first keystroke, the band starts playing.
I’ll just scan my emails first; it shouldn’t take long. In the middle of every email, what do I find? Links! They sound so enticing and I might miss something if I don’t click.
Then, I receive notice from Twitter, “You have a new follower; so and so favorited your tweet…” It would be rude not to reply.
Three hours later, I’ve clicked every link included in the first five emails (I still have two and a half pages left to peruse) and checked out my new followers on Twitter. Before I can’t get through Facebook (damn share buttons) my husband walks in, ” Hey, I have an idea; let’s go shopping then head up to the lake.”
Well, who doesn’t like shopping? And well, I could use a little relaxation.
What about you? Are these beautiful, sunny days feeding the squirrels?
How do you stay focused on writing when FUN is calling your name?
Tips for taming the squirrels:
- Make a list of writing projects, in order of importance (deadlines, submissions, contests).
- Devote your first hour of the day to writing and nothing but writing.
- Schedule blog updates and your WIP on alternate days.
- Check email, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Contently only after that first hour.
- Buy your husband a golf membership or if all else fails, lock him out of the house.
What about you? How do you stay focused during the summer? I’d love to hear from you. Talk to me. Share the tips and be sure to follow me on Twitter or Facebook.
COW PASTURE CHRONICLES 