Posted by admin Jan 11 2012, 12:01 am
We now declare the Winter Writing Festival OPEN!
Let the Games begin!!
1) define how *you personally* will earn your Festival “points”
and
2) declare your commitment to earning 50 points by the end of February. (Further details on goal-setting follow below).
But to get the most from the Winter Writing Festival, leave your comment on the regular Ruby site, then jump over to our special Festival site, rsswwf.com, and officially register. (You can reach the Festival site from the regular Ruby site at any time by clicking on the Winter Writing Festival Participant badge–the bright-blue box–in the upper right of the rubyslipperedsisterhood.com home page.)
Grab yourself a Participant badge (right-click on the one below and then click on “save image as”) to upload to your personal website. (You can also find the Participant badge in the About section of the Writing Festival site.)
And when you visit rsswwf.com, join us for chat-room sprints, share your experiences on the daily Brag Blog (scroll down towards the bottom of the rsswwf.com site), find inspirational quotes and links to Ruby posts on craft, make connections with other Participants, and make inspiring daily updates of your point total on your profile page.
Also, check out the fantabulous Winter Writing Festival swag you have a chance to win if you meet your goals each week. (For the first time this year, you can also purchase some cool Winter Writing Festival swag yourself–including coffee mugs, tees, sweats, and totes with the Festival logo–at our Cafe Press store.)
What’s not to love? (Our thanks to mega-talented Ruby Sister Liz Bemis of bemispromotions.com for designing both sites!!)
If for any reason you have technical problems registering today: don’t panic!! Just leave us a message here in the comment trail, and get started earning points for the Festival. We’ll make sure you get registered ASAP.
If you’re not sure how the chat room sprints work, check out Ruby Sister Kim Law’s great instructions here. You don’t want to miss out on those sprints!!
A quick review of the goal-setting and point-scoring rules:
Everybody gets one BONUS point TODAY for coming to the Ruby blog and leaving a comment that makes a public declaration of your commitment to take part in the Festival and a public announcement of your goals. Then, for each of the 50 days of the Festival (including today), you work to earn an additional point—and you define what it takes to earn that point.
Here are some examples of the sorts of things you might define as worth one point (you fill in the variables with the amounts that work for you):
-writing X number of words or pages
-deep revising Y number of pages
-polishing Z number of pages
-freewriting / brainstorming for Q number of minutes/hours
-doing R number of 20-minute writing sprints
-keeping butt in chair and hands on keyboard for S number of minutes or hours
For instance, one person might commit to earning points according to the following terms:
-writing 500 words per day OR
-deep revising 10 pages per day OR
-doing a final polish on 25 pages per day
Any day that person meets ANY of those goals, she gets a point.
YOU set the goals that meet your personal writing style and writing needs. (For more advice on how to set up your goals, see yesterday’s post here).
If you can’t meet your goal on any particular day, you can certainly double or triple or quadruple your goal on another day to catch up. And if you know ahead of time that you can never work on certain days (say, Saturdays) feel free to add something like “keep balance in my life by taking Saturday off” to your personal list of ‘ways to earn a point.’ Don’t be shy.
Remember, we all have different life commitments and different approaches to our writing lives, so we all need to set our own goals. All goals are equally worthy. This isn’t a competition, it’s a supportive process for MOVING FORWARD WITH OUR WRITING.
We want the Festival to work for YOU!
Check in at the Ruby blog every WEDNESDAY during the Festival to report your progress (and be entered in random drawings for some of the Festival Swag).
If you reach the end of February with a nice round 50 points, YOU WIN!!
Good luck all, and GET WRITING!!
I’m excited to be part of this writing experience because I need to finish my NaNo book and this might propel me thru that as well as my current edits. Thanks for offering this fun motivation. I look forward to the chats, too.
Yay, Rebecca! I’m in the process of polishing my NaNo book, so glad to hear that others are still working on theirs as well!
Welcome, Rebecca!
The Winter Writing Festival is a fabulous place for finishing NaNo novels!
Last year was incredibly productive for me and I’m looking forward to another fantastic festival! Thanks Rubies for wrenching me out of the winter doldrums!
My 2012 Winter Writing Festival goals include:
1)Completing the first draft of second story in my YA trilogy.
2) Editing/revising first story of YA trilogy.
To earn my daily WWF point,I must write 500 words daily, OR 250 words plus edit five pages. (Once second story is completed: Edit/revise 10 pages daily.)
Hi to my sprint friends from last year and my writing friends I’ve convinced to join in this year!
~Hugs~
Patti
Glad to see you back, Patti!
Hey, girl. Welcome back!
Woot, Patti!!
Great to have you back with us!
Count me in! This will be my first time participating, and I’m hoping to use the festival to finish my NaNoWriMo novel from last November. But since NaNo always leaves me feeling drained and like I need a break, and since that break always ends up being longer than I meant it to be, I’m also hoping to use the festival to get myself into productive yet sane writing habits that I’ll be able to sustain all year.
So, I’ve decided that I will earn one point each time I: write 1,000 words, OR deep-revise 15 pages, OR polish 25 pages, OR do two intensive 1-hour sessions of outlining/plotting/planning, OR take a Saturday or Sunday off and avoid other excuses for staring at the screen all day.
Looking forward to learning the RSSWWF ropes from my Ruby Sisters, and all our wonderful friends.
Hurray, Sally! Delighted you’ll be joining us!
There’s all kinds of great energy in the RSSWWF, and it’s a great place to make forward progress on NaNo books!
Hey, first time I’m doing this challenge here!
To earn my daily point I will:
-write 2,500 number of words
-freewriting / brainstorming for 20-30 minutes
-keeping butt in chair and hands on keyboard for 2 hours
Best of luck, everyone!
Glad to see you here, Juice! Best of luck to you too.
Another first timer to the festival here! I set a few goals (“resolutions” lol) for the new year, but I was lacking the motivation to follow through on them. Now that the newness of the new year has died down a bit, I finally feel ready to tackle those goals.
So, I will give myself a point for doing the following:
*write 500 words in my WIP
*write an entry for my blog (which I don’t do nearly enough)
*read at least 2 chapters in one of my writing “craft” books (currently reading “Time to Write” by Kelly Stone)
I can’t wait to get started!
Welcome, Meghan! We’re delighted to have you!
I think adding craft-book reading to your list a terrific goal!
Please join us in the chat room writing sprints (you can get more info on them on the rsswwf.com site in the large bright-blue box on the upper left of the home page.)
So darn excited for this! I work best with deadlines and daily challenges!
MY GOAL: Finish Current WIP& Start new One during the festival. I am a little over halfway or so on the WIP.
My 1 point = 1,000 words OR participating in one #1k1hr OR joining one Ruby sprint OR one “rest” day a week OR one hour plotting/outlining/revising OR one contest entry submitted OR 500 words WIP + blog entry or 20 minutes exercise.
I should probably include exercise on MY list. Good idea!
I thought about letting exercise count entirely for one day but then I timed what 500 words has been taking me lately and split the time. Definitely add it, but think about making yourself check in with your WIP too
Me too, Arlene. Me too.
Life is on overload, but writing is my priority. I have two books to get ready for publication. I’m deep in edits. I also intend to write some new words. My muse wants that time, and it’s a great way for me to relax.
Looking forward to meeting everyone.
E.
Be sure to set your specific daily goals (i.e., ways to earn points.)
The key for the super-busy is to give yourself some relatively low-stress (or low time demanding) ways to earn a point. That way on your most hectic days, you can still get SOMETHING done, and keep writing.
I am another first timer as well!
My goal:
-to finish, or be nearly finished, with my current WIP
My daily point:
-finish a chapter a day
-write 20 minutes three times a day
-free write, or brainstorm, for 25 minutes twice a day
Hannah, those sound like great goals!
Hi, ladies! Sorry I haven’t been around much lately. I’ve been reading the blog every day, but usually in Google Reader … which means I have to click through to get to the site to leave a comment — and I haven’t been doing that.
My first goal is to finish editing/expanding Brad & Erin’s story so I can sub it out. (I have a specific target in mind, and can’t wait to get it there.)
I have a whole list of ways to earn my daily point, including:
Write at least 500 words on WIP OR
Edit at least 10 pages OR
Craft winning query letter for one of my two 2012 GH entries (so I can be ready if I final again) OR
Read/give feedback to CP. (The list goes on. If you want to read the whole, boring thing, you can find it at my blog, http://arlenehittle.com.)
Arlene! So good to see you, girl!
Hi, Arlene!
Hey, CP! Great to see you here. I’m not really here. I’m working on that partial I owe you. Honest. *G*
My goal this year is very unambitious: write at least 150 words a day. Plus an unofficial goal – edit stuff as I go along.
Here’s to 50 productive, fun-filled days.
Not unambitious at all, Eve! Those words add up. Best of luck:)
Hey, 150 words a day, every day, is great. That’s the way to train yourself to write consistently. Best of luck!
My goal is fairly simple (pending family situations as usual)
-1,000 words a day (or at least a 1k1h session)
-revising/editing a scene each day
-keeping my BICHOK for a total of at least 2 hours (given proper breaks every 20 minutes) to work on writing (not emails/blogs/etc.)
Have a problem though–can’t remember log in info as I signed up a while ago.
Got my log in but can’t update photo. Oh, well.
I’ll let our webmistress know…I heard someone else say they were having picture trouble.
Welcome, Loni! So glad you’ll be with us!
Thanks Elisa! I look forward to hitting goals!
Our Webmistress is indeed looking into it! Hopefully we’ll have a solution ASAP.
I’m going to be a turtle here…
My point factor is based on either –
*Writing 500 words
or
*Editing for 30 minutes
Weekdays at the day job cut into my available time.
This I will do, no matter what. And it’s more than I was doing.
Love that — “This I will do, no matter what.” Good luck, Lynn.
It’ll add up, Lynn!!! You GO!!
Waving “hi” to Lynn!!!
Waving back – lalala Heidi!
Okay, going out on a limb here setting goals while still beating the crap out of Ovarian Cancer. Just had chemo so feeling not up to par (or that could be the less than four hours of sleep last night because of steroids). But I HAVE to finish Book 4 in my series before I get my edits for my new book back from my editor. And this winter festival sounds like just what I need to put my butt back in the chair (even if three kids and a crazy dog are wrestling around behind me – that’s why I have ear buds, right?!).
So my goals to earn a point – 1. Write 1000 new words 2. Editing for one hour (in case those edits come early)3. Brainstorming for 30 minutes (I can do that lying down : )which then must lead to me writing for 30 more minutes.
They may not sound like huge goals but the point is for me to do them everyday to keep my head and heart in this book. It’s been very hard to concentrate on writing fiction when reality has been more than gripping (more like strangling – LOL). BTW – my last scan on Friday came out clean meaning I’m beating the cancer, but I still have chemo until July – sigh . . .
Thanks again Ruby Sisters (of which I’m supposed to be one, but Ovarian Cancer has temporarily turned my ruby slipper to teal) for creating such a wonderful opportunity.
Good luck everyone and may we all write with brilliant flair and tireless motivation! Heather
Oh and I declare my goal to reach 50 points by the end of the festival.
: ) Heather
So glad to see you here, Sister. You always inspire me.
Heather, best of luck to you in ALL your goals. Stay strong!
Um, you’re always a Ruby Sister, honey bun. Glas to see you’re hanging in there and are participating in the WWF. No goal is too small
Thanks, Liz! I was feeling a bit sheepish about not being able to post-like at all. But I think of you all, all the time. And I plan to jump back in when life isn’t so topsey turvy. You know with all this going on, I haven’t even been able to read a book to the finish until just a couple weeks ago. I kept trying to and reality would suck me right back out. But I recently bought and read Darynda’s First Grave on the Right. And I finished it! That says just how great it was : ) And now I’m writing again. Thanks for making me feel like I’m still a sister.
Hugs, Ruby Slippered Teal Warrior
Liz is right; sisters are sisters. We may not always keep in touch, but the connection remains.
So glad to see you here, Heather. As I said my prayers the other night, I realized we hadn’t heard from you, and I wondered how you were doing. Now I know and am thrilled you’re kicking cancer’s butt!
Been thinking about you, Ruby sis! So glad to see you here. And I’m in awe of your goals. I barely put any words on the page during my chemo…just didn’t have the energy and couldn’t focus. So proud of you! My prayers continue to be with you. Keep kicking cancer’s butt!
Maybe you told me, but I can’t remember. What did you fight? I have Ovarian and they found the beginnings of uterine cancer too when they gave me the complete hysterectomy. My mom is an 18 year breast cancer survivor. But that’s it in the family. I wasn’t expecting this at all.
It sounds like you’ve beaten yours. All cancer fighters are warriors and linked. Hugs,Heather
Oh my gosh, I don’t know you, but my heart was in my throat as I read your post. Your goals are AWESOME. And you are an inspiration (even (or especially!) if you don’t feel like it. You are doing amazing. I’m adding you to my prayers as well, praying that by July you’ve beaten it for good.
Heather—I’m with Annabeth.
You can meet all your goals—especially the most significant one. Hang tight. Kelley
Yay, Heather! So glad to see you here…and whether Teal or Ruby, we’re still sisters!
Hugs and CHEERS, Heather!!!
So, so, so glad to see you here, and to hear about the CLEAN SCAN!!
You are amazing!!
Thanks everyone for the support and cheers. It’s great to be here again : ) Little by little normal life returns. I didn’t think it possible six months ago.
Hugs! Ruby Slippered Teal Warrior
BTW – I’ve already met my 1000 word on my WIP goal today! Even with a 4 year old sitting next to me playing something very loud on my iphone.
Yay Heather! Teal, Ruby, whatever, we’re all sisters. Glad you’re feeling up to joining us, and so glad the scan is clean!
Yes, Heather!!! GO, GO, GO!!
HEATHER!!!!! So good to see you, my love!
So cool seeing everyone so gung-ho.
The festival did wonders for me last year. This year I’m in for one hour of writing a day. I know it may seem simple, but if I can reliably manage 1 hour a day of writing, it may be the only way I’ll be able to write once my twinlets come home from the NICU.
I’m also going to be a good girl and dedicate my typing time to writing verses blogging, tweeting, et. al. *grins*
You’re amazing, Jeannie! Pull some bands on those wrists though and take care of yourself.
Another inspiration! Praying your twins come home very soon. You can do it! Our good friends also have twins in the NICU hoping to come home soon. She’s been spending so much time pumping that she’s been working on ways to be productive during that time. Maybe dictation software?
Indeed! I feel like a bit of a cow with the pregnancy weight and the constant milking
One of the keys is learning how to be productive in 1-2 hour increments between pumping. Of course, that will all change once the kidlets come home.
Have you see the hands-free pumping bras? You can DIY or get one. It can make you feel less . . . tethered. My brother uses dragon speak dictation software–I think they have a free trial. That might be helpful when they get home. Have they had you wearing them on your chest in the NICU? You can also try wearing them at home like in the Moby wrap in the twin hold (if your provider says they are ready!). One of our friends is a medical transcriptionist and she did hours of work with her twins snuggled in the moby while she used a big exercise ball for a chair!
Go, go, go, Jeannie!!!
Yay! I’m so happy to get to do this again. I was sooo productive during the WWF last year!
My points :
*writing 500 words/day
*participating in a sprint
*Tues-Thurs, writing while The Kid is in school
*writing a letter to prospective sponsors for pageant
Welcome back, Kali!
Hey, Kali!! Great to see you again!
Thank you both!
I’m so excited to participate again, and I know that leaving this comment is the easiest point I’ll get!
My daily goals:
write 1,000 words per day in my manuscript
revise one chapter a day
write three chapters of plot outline a day
I want to keep the focus on my manuscripts, as I don’t want to put them off for the sake of my blog or other commitments.
By the end of February, I want to finish rewriting one of my novels and have a good start on editing the second. If I have time, I may even start plotting another.
Best of luck, everyone!
Good to see you, Kat!
Welcome back, Kat! Can’t wait to get started!!
Sounds like fun. Count me in! During the festival I will earn a point by:
1) Writing 500 words a day toward a detailed synopsis and plot outline, and when that’s finished,
2) Writing 500 words a day on the story.
Looking forward to the writing festival!
Ooh, a synopsis. That’s a great goal (adding that to my list)!
Three hours BICHOK per day, at least six days per week, during which I’ll a) write new scenes for my WIP, TEMPT ME, and b) review CHASE ME galleys.
Join me for Sunday afternoon sprints!!!
Darn, sorry I’ll miss your spirnt Tamara, I work and drive Sundays.
This will be my first festival and I’m really looking forward to it.
My goal: complete my new WIP
I will earn points via:
writing 1000 words/day= 1 pt
or revise 10 pgs= 1 pt
or polish 15 pgs- 1 pt
or critiquing one chapter for CP = 1 pt
or taking one day off a week to spend w/ family = 1 pt
Hi Jennifer! I know you from the Harlequin boards! Waving!
So glad you’re with us, Jennifer!
It’s going to be FABULOUS!!
Hi, Tina. Yep, we know each other from eHQ. I can say I knew you before you became a famous author. *G*
Elisa, hi. This festival has kicked off with a bang for me. Did the morning sprints and racked up 2100 new wds today. Woohoo! Now I’m off to work on an agent request. Never would have gotten so much done today without the nudge from the festival. It’s a great idea.
2100 new words before noon!! Woo-hooo!!!
I was really excited about it too. It’ll need cleaned up later but I always go by the adage that you can’t revise a blank page. So if I have something down, good or bad, it gets the juices flowing. Sprints are awesome!!!
Hi, CP!
Very, very excited about today…and inspired by those of you dealing with preemies, cancer and mountainous work schedules but still making the committment! You gals are awesome!
For me I have very concrete goals:
Finish revisions on book 2 by Monday
Complete book 3 by Feb 1st (approx 15,000 words)
Start Christmas book and get five chapters completed
Working on these three goals will entail edits, AAs and brainstorming/research….so whatever it takes!
Can’t wait to meet you all – I’m hosting first chat this morning! 8:00 CT (that’s 9:00 ET and 6:00 PT….I think) Drop by for a visit
Thanks for a great sprint session this morning! It was such a productive morning and the time flew by. I’m still on the ball working on polishing up a partial right now. Am looking forward to more sprints.
Hi Jennifer,
Congrats on the Four Seasons win (and request?). Hope to ‘run into you’ during the sprints. Kelley Bowen
Hi, Kelley. Thank you. I was quite surprised by the win and request. It was a great way to start the year. I’m looking forward to running into you to. I should be at tomorrow’s 9 a.m. sprint if you can make it.
So glad the RSSWWF is finally here! I’ve been stalled on The Big Book revisions and need some serious motivation. Only one goal: complete deep revisions on one chapter every week day. So by Day 50, it will be agent-ready.
Hugs and good luck to all!
Ruby heel clicks to you on the agent search!
I am so excited about this!! And I am a first time participant who had an epic FAIL during NANO-So I am determined to succeed with this one.
I am in the middle of my first manuscript with a starting word count of 30,127.
My goals are:
1.Finish my book by the end of February and have it agent-ready.
2. Write at least 1,500 words a day = 1 pt.
3. Revise 10 pages every week = 1 pt.
4. Plotting every day for at least 30 minutes for next day’s writing = 1pt
5. Leaving comments here for feedback and motivation = 1pt.
That’s it.
Now with 10 minutes to start, I am sweating like crazy, lol.
Trish
So great to have you, Trish!
Sounds like you’re in perfect position to make good use of the Festival!
Be sure to join us for some chat-room writing sprints! (you can find more info over at the rsswwf.com site….just click on the blue Festival badge in the upper right-hand corner of this page to jump over there.)
Hi Trish!!!
I’m here!!
Hi everyone
I loved taking part in this challenge last year and it really helped me revise my Nano novel.
This year, after forcing myself to be organised and write every day for NaNo, I’ve fallen into bad habits and need to get my motivation back to revise my current WIP and get it into shape to be able to submit to my publisher. I’ve had quite a lot going on since Christmas, including serious surgery for one of my closest on-line friends, so, as I said, I’m counting on the WWF to spark my motivation again.
I’ll earn points as follows:
1 pt for:
At least one hour deep revision of WIP
OR 3 sprints OR a combination of sprints and above.
OR Critting 1 chapter for crit partner’s novel Plus a sprint
OR completing posting on joint blog to go up every Friday
plus a sprint
OR writing post for own blog PLUS half an hour’s editing
GOALS: To earn 50 points by end of Festival
To have revised complete novel by end of Festival
Really looking forward to the Festival and meeting some old friends here.
Welcome back, Lyn. Time to kick some WIPs to the next level.
We’ll get you right out of those bad habits, Lyn, and back into good ones!!
Looking forward to sprinting with you again!!
I’m a first-timer and very excited to have this festival to push me along on my revisions! My goal is to finish revisions on the story I’m working on by the end of the February. My daily goal is to:
1) Revise 5 pages a day, or
2) Write 500 new words a day (’cause revisions definitely involve some new writing), or
3) Participate in an hour of writing sprints.
Ready, set, go!
Wendy
Welcome, Wendy! Great to have you! Good luck in the Festival!
Hi all! I’m participating for the first time so I’m keeping my goals on the modest side while secretly hoping to exceed them
Here they are:
1 hour of writing per day
1 sprint per week
Take Sat or Sun off
Good luck everyone!
Those are awesome goals Krista!!
Hi, everyone! I’m an RSSWWF virgin (gasp!) and I’m so excited to get going. Before I heard about the sprint-writing-festival, I’d just finished my goals through the end of March – so this will help me stay on track and get where I want to me. My goals:
*Write at least 1 hour each day
*Write at least 1,000 words/day
*’vacation’/rejuvenate Saturday/Sunday (so I don’t burn out….read, play with the family, whatever)
Good luck everybody!!
Welcome to the festival, Kristina, and happy writing!
PS: Are you the Kristi who was treasurer of FTHRW? If so, hi!
Greetings from N. Carolina! I hereby declare myself in! I will be earning a point for every 500 words added to my work(s) in progress, as I typically write 2-3 books at the same time.
To all the other participants, bless your hearts, and good luck, y’all!
Hey, Kianna, waving to you from Pirate country, NC. Glad to see you joining us at the WWF.
Yay. The Christmas decorations are gone and it’s time to get back into gear. I am going to finish deep revisions on my fourth book and have it ready for the editor–work every day except Saturday and Sunday.
Your fourth book!!! Yay, Bev!
Hi, ladies! This is my first time on the blog and my first WWF. Ruby sisters Kim Law and Danniele Worsham convinced me to join, and I’m hoping to generate some momentum to meet my goals for this new year. The ideas for earning my WWF points actually came from my goal setting for the months of January and February, activities I can complete in a day, around work and kids and everything, and not feel at the end of February the way I felt after NaNo! My options are:
- Revise 10 pgs.
- Write 700 words.
- Deep plot for 1 hour.
- Write/revise (for 1 hour) any query letter.
- Come up with new, original story kernel.
I’m definitely excited about this opportunity and getting to know some of you over the next few weeks. Thanks so much!
Ella
Hi Ella! Welcome! So glad Kim and Danniele convinced you to join. Best of luck on your goals!
Hi Ella! So glad you decided to join!!! May your writing be terrific!
Another first timer here! Hoping this will help me develop some solid writing habits. My goals:
– Revise 10 pages of my ms per day
– Plot 1-2 scenes of my new wip per day
– Participate in one sprint per day
– Write 500 words per day
– Embrace couch-potatohood one day per week
– Complete 1 assignment in the online workshop(s)I’m taking per day
Is the OR between the goals understood, or should I run back to my profile and fix?
Good luck!
Welcome, Cia! Glad to have you here. Your goals look great.
Thanks Cynthia. Good luck with your goals.
Hi, all. I’m a newbie, too, but really want to get in on the action this year. Since I normally write in fits & spurts my goals are:
Write 500 new words per day OR
Brainstorm 30 minutes per day OR
Edit/Revise a scene each day (either new WIP or previous 1st draft) OR
Keep BICHOK at least 1 hour per day
Good luck to us all!!
Hey, Charlotte! I write in spurts too. Glad to hear there are others like me out there in the world!
I’m in. My goals:
1) I will take one day a week off from writing. The day will depend on my schedule, normally it will be Sunday. (I get a point for taking a day off) This goal is to remind me not to let my deadlines overtake my life.
2) I will write 3 hours a day the other six days of the week, for a total weekly goal of 18 hours a week. I will be working on revisions from my editor on Last Chance Christmas, and also starting a new book with the working title of Last Chance Picture Show.
3) I can make up hours lost in one day for hours gained in another, but I am not allowed to make up writing time on my day off. The only way to get a point on that day is to NOT WRITE.
I hope every makes their goals and writes the best books of their lives.
I really like rule #3! That’s very healthy.
Oh, I love that rule too, Hope!! Discipline, discipline!!
I love the flexibility in those goals, Hope! Nicely done!
I did so well last year revising my first book! This year, I have to plot out three books (and will hopefully find that my new plotting chart is AWESOME!).
I WILL get myself deep into the first draft of the most promising story.
Like last year, I will take a day off each week. Since I tend to take part in so many weekend sprints, I more than make up for a day of rest.
Yes, I love Hope’s rule number three too!
Good to have you back, Eileen!
Hurray! Get ready to SPRING, sister!!
And, yes, you can definitely do plotting during writing sprints. Any way you can use that 20 minutes of focus is fair game, and SUPER PRODUCTIVE! (I know you know that, but I want to be sure new folks do too.)
Errr, that was supposed to be get ready to SPRINT. But you can spring if you really want to.
My goals for this year are to
Write 1,000 words a day or
Edit/Revise one scene or
Attend my local RWA Chapter meetings and finallly
Tile the backsplash in my kitchen, so I can write without that unfinished project hanging over me. It’s only been 7 years.
Great to see you again, Kristina! And I sooooo understand about the backsplash. *g*
Great goals, Kristina!!
Attending chapter meetings is a great idea–and a very valuable way to earn a point!
Also, I LOVE the idea of finishing a project that’s been weighing on you! Very liberating! No doubt it will be very empowering for your writing life once that weight is lifted! Go, go, go!!
Greetings. I’m in. (Thank you Addison for letting me know about this challenge.)
My goals: to write 5 pages every day or edit 10 pages a day.
Points to date= 1
If you meet your Festival goal today, you’ll have two points. Nothing like a jump start to get the ball rolling. Welcome!
I’m so excited! Can’t wait to get into the sprints.
Goals this year (less of them, but harder than last years):
-a chapter a day
-finishing my homework before I go to bed
The last one is so not writing related but I really need to crack down on getting all that work done before I hit the pillow.
Hey, Tia. I hope you have your track shoes on; those sprints can be demanding. *g* So good to have you back with us.
I’m excited to give this a whirl as I’ve gotten out of writing on a regular basis and I need to fix that! I’ve got a WIP that’s just waiting to be finished. My goal is a little low, but I hope to pump it up once I get my confidence back.
My goal: to write at least 500 words each day
Good luck everybody!
Not low at all, Tara! It’s an awesome start and better to meet and exceed your goal and feel victorious than build too high a goal and not reach it (I’m the queen of that! And it’s not healthy!)
Good luck! Great start!
First My Thanks to Patti for Suggesting this. I am definitely in need of the motivation this year. In November I made a rather crazy goal, or so I thought to write 5000 words per day, and I nearly drove myself crazy so for the WWF I have concluded that I need to be more reasonable and take into account other responsibilities!
That being said, my goals are to be writing 1000 words/day OR Revising 10 pages/day OR doing a final polish on 15 pages/day OR Spending a minimum of 3 hours plotting; brainstorming; outlining; or Free-writing per day OR and this one is valid on Tuesdays Only Spend Tuesday evenings with the Family, because everyone needs a break and I am sure he would like me to cook at least once a week!
Well Good Luck to one and All, and that being said, I’m off…
~Tiana~
OMG, yeah. 5k a day would make me crazy! (Okay, crazier…)
Joan, It really wasn’t the word count that was driving me crazy, well crazier anyway, after all I made my goal of 150,000 words plus 94,000 extra for the month. It was the fact that at the end of the month, I had a 244,000 word elephant that had completely deviated from my outline, the three individual stories had merged into one, and I still hadn’t made it to the climax of the story. Of course, as my friends point out, it would help if I would quit writing 90% dialogue.
Tiana
Fabulous goals, Tiana!!! Good luck!
It’s so good to see so many returning WWF participants, and so many new faces, too!
Right now, I’m editing for my CP. For this week, minimum three chapters a day until it’s completed = 1 pt.
Next week, whole new ball game. BICHOK goals to push my own work forward. Minimum 3 hours per day, with the weekends fluid. Either Saturday or Sunday is mine to relax, read, catch-up with chores, or spend time with my Stinkerbell. BTW, these goals are subject to change. I’m trying to make my goals a priority this year. It’s time.
Hi Gwyn!
Glad to have you back to writing, Gwyn. It’s time for you to focus on you a bit.
I was here last year, but I fizzled a bit at the end. I’m excited to try again, however!
- My goal is 2K words/day every weekday, or more as I please.
- I can write or not on the weekend as I please and earn my point for that day.
- I will only write what I want to write in my MS, not what I feel “ought” to be there. I’m not writing with contest judges, critique partners, or the this-sucks/you’ll-never-get-anywhere gremlin on my shoulder.
I’m most of the way to goal for today.
Good for you, Anna. It’s not about the number of times you fall; it’s about the number of times you get up. Glad to see you dusting yourself off for another go.
Thank you very much, especially for the lovely reminder. I fall quite a lot.
Thank you very much, especially for the lovely reminder. I fall quite a lot.
Oops, sorry for the dup. Don’t know how that happened.
I’d love to copy your goal of not writing with the gremlin on your shoulder. I would love to find a way to disable the inner critic when I’m drafting, even more than I’d like to disable the cloaking device on my dishwasher that renders it invisible to anyone in my house who isn’t female. Even the dog knows that’s where the dirty dishes go.
LOL, Kristina. As for silencing the inner critic, the sprints are very good for that; you don’t have time to listen to the beotch. *G*
I’m here and reporting in. Keep me accountable, guys, because I have work to do!
My goal:
2000 new words/day OR deep revising 10 pages/day.
I’m at that stage in the WIP where it’s a big mess, and I’m losing sight of the end. I’ve been fighting the urge to go back to the beginning, but it’s making me crazy and less productive, so I’m giving myself permission to choose what I want to do each day.
I’m also giving myself permission to take one weekend day off.
We’ve got your back, Cynthia!!
Hey Everyone -
Goals:
Do meditation and morning pages every day
Write character studies and work through plot analysis
Review chapter 1, 2 and write chapter 3.
Yeah!
Now that I’ve made a commitment, how do I get started with tracking my progress?
I love your meditation and morning pages goal–so healthy! I’m jealous, actually, wanting to add those into my daily, but not in a place to do it right now.
Enjoy!
Greetings from Maryland. This is my first year with RSSWWF. I guess that makes me a virgin too. My goals for the next 50 days are:
Revise 10 pages each day on my completed WIP
Spend 1 hour each day plotting my next WIP
Begin writing my next WIP
Spend 1/2 hour reading something just for fun.
Yay, Nancy is here! Hi, Nancy!
xo and happy writing!
Anna G.
Welcome, Nancy!! Great goals!
I’m excited to be back for another run at the Winter Writing Festival. This is really perfect timing for me because I’m wrapped up in final edits for my first book. But,I will soon also be wrapped up in promotion ‘stuff’ and, as important as that is, I don’t want it to sabotage my writing. So, my goals are:
1. Minimum of 50 pp. of edits a day until they are done OR
2. 1000 new words a day OR
3. Build up my Twitter following as “ordered” by my agent. Maximum of 30 minutes a day – must be followed by writing/editing as well.
That oughta keep me out of trouble.
Oh, heck, I know better. I’m always in trouble
Thanks, Rubies, this is a great challenge!
Hurray, Liz, my Unsinkable sister!! So glad to have you in the Festival again!!
Here’s to the Unsinkables!
Hi Liz!!
I’m so excited for this. I had a great time last year. My goal this year:
1) Write minimum 500 words a day, which should have my current WIP complete by the end, OR
2) Edit at least 15 pages a day.
Yay Emma Leigh. So excited to see you back! Hope to see you in sprints with me
Welcome back! Good to see you here as always!
I’ve been looking forward to the Festival for the last month or so! I’m about to turn a book in and expect revisions to hit my desk soon afterwards. So my goals are:
1) Write 1,500 new words a day, OR
2) Revise 20 pages a day, OR
3) Revise 10 pages, write 500 new words and work on synopsis for new book.
I’ve been looking forward to it too, Tina. So Excited. Excellent goals, Sister!
This is the perfect way to get back to writing daily (at least five days a week). Here’s my list of points:
1) Every day I work on MS for two hours or more,
2) If I edit/polish more than ten pages – some sections are in good shape and some are bad, so it will be uneven progress and 10 seemed like a nice round number
3) An extra point if I hit my progress benchmarks by Saturday night. (that pace requires more than 10 pgs/day)
If I finish polishing before the contest is over, then I’ll give myself a point for each query or submission.
Glad to see my Starcatcher sister here. Welcome, Anna, and I hope this goes super well for you.
Way to go, Anna. Great to see you here.
Thank you for this! I’m a six time NANO ‘winner’ and up to my eyeballs in my current WIP, so I couldn’t hammer out a new 50K in November. I was feeling badly about that, but then I heard about you!!
I commit to a two hour minimum each day working on my latest book.
There… One point down….49 more to go!
Hi Lisa! I’m a Nanomite too! I think I’ve done Nano for 5 or six years (had to skip out in 2010 because we were moving that month). I think you’ll like the WWF. It’s a more relaxed version of NaNo.
I guess I’d better make it official, too:
I hereby declare my commitment to earning 50 points during the Winter Writing Festival!!
My daily goals to earn a point are:
-minimum 500 new words a day OR
-one hour BICHOK OR
-a chat-room sprint
Keeping it small and simple so I can work it into my busy life without falling off the wagon.
My overarching goal is to FINALLY, FINALLY finish revisions to my GH book so I can get it out on submission!
Woot, Elisa! Yay on your getting-those-revisions-finished goal!
Go, Elise, go!! Would love to see that gem out on submission!
ELISA!!! ELISA!!! Not Elise
No worries…I answer to both!
One NEW page a day on WIP in between at least 4 hours of editing, revising and self-pubbing.
Hi Laurie!
Good luck!
Waving “hi” to Laurie.
I’d kill for four hours a day to work on my craft! Green with envy here in AZ.
WOOT!
By golly it’s wonderful to see everybody joining in the WWF.
My goals are pretty simple.
I will remind myself every day that I am a writer. Every word I write is powerful and counts.
I will write to the best of my ability and every day my ability will grow.
I will write what I like to read and be happy if what I write gives one person pleasure and joy.
Six days a week I will write 1000 words a day minimum and deep edit five pages.
I love your goals, Rita!!
Those are beautiful, powerful goals Rita!
Rita, what great goals. It’s always good to see your powerful comments.
Am I understanding the scoring correctly? We get one bonus point today for declaring, PLUS another point for meeting our goal, equaling 2 for the day? Or do we get just one?
I thought we got a head-start today, with a bonus point for our declaration plus a point for meeting a goal.
You can earn TWO points today…gives you a little bit of a cushion in case you have a day when you can’t meet your goal (NOT that that’s going to happen to any of us!!!)
Hi All,
I’m a first time participant & very excited to give the challenge a try. I’ll earn points by
1. doing 6 20 minute writing sprints per week
2. edit/revise or rewrite 6 scenes per week
3. Taking one day off
Welcome, Wendy. Great way to start a new year, isn’t it?
I am so excited that it’s finally here!!
Here are my goals:
1) To finish the first draft of my fantasy/romance novel
2) Work on developing all the minute details of the fantasy world that will make it realistic (this will come AFTER I finish the first draft)
To earn points I will do one of the following:
1) Write at least 1000 words a day 5x a week
2)Participate in a writing sprint 3x a week
Welcome back, Dara. Good to have you with us again!
I’m going to keep my goals the same as last year:
Writing 500 words / day OR
Deep revising 5 pages / day OR
Final polish on 15 pages / day
But I’m really hoping to make some sprints this year.
Yes, yes, sprint!!! Best. Thing. Evah.
I am so excited to be participating in this event!
My daily goals are:
Writing 500 words per day on new project OR
deep revising 1 scene per day OR
Butt in the chair for 2 hours per day OR
Brainstorming story ideas for 30 minutes OR
Taking off one day per week
Monique
Love the ORs, Monique. Flexibility can be key to meeting goals. Glad to have you aboard.
Welcome, Monique!!! Thrilled to see you here.
Great goals!~D~
This is my first year with Ruby-Slippered Sisterhood. Lots of energy here!
My goals are:
Deep revisions, 10 pages per day
Work on cover for upcoming release
Absolutely! Ruby energy is FANTASTIC!!!!
I very excited to participate in the Winter Writing Festival as a first timer! My goals are: write min 1000 words or more words, revise what I write from the previous days or work on revising 1st draft. two days off a week.
Welcome, dianamcc. Here’s to progress!
This festival is such a good idea! I was really bummed the past two years because I NEVER get to participate in NaNoWriMo (November is my busiest month as a photographer!)…I’m so glad Addison mentioned this festival at the RWA meeting on Saturday. =0)
My goals are to write 500 words a day, or revise 10 pages a day OR write a blog post (minimum 200 words). I am terrible at keeping my blog (which is a photography/lifestyle blog) consistently updated, so that’s a really important goal to try for one-two posts a week.
Can’t wait to participate in my first sprint tomorrow!
Welcome, Colleen!
The Rubies came up with the Winter Writing Festival idea when so many were just too busy during November to participate in NaNo.
The WWF was designed to AVOID holidays, and also to give everyone a lift through the doldrums of winter.
Here’s to a fabulous, productive 50 days!!
Whoo Hooo! I’ve been looking forward to this. I’m ready to DIG IN!
Yay, Jenn!!!! Love your attitude! ~D~
So glad to be here again. I’m ready to get started. My biggest goal is to write 50 words a day.
Welcome back, Emily. You are wise to set manageable goals. All our lives are different, with different demands and responsibilities, which is what makes the WWF perfect for just about anyone!
I’ve been counting the days until this started again. Loving the swag – I definitely plan to snag one of those cute tees! My overriding goal is to come close to finishing my current WIP. Individual goals: Write 1,000 words, Blog 3 times every week, Critique, Beta Read, Plot a chapter for HHB, Attend MRW meeting, Wrote word count above stated goal level, Attend critique meeting, Brainstorm new book idea,
Not feel guilty about taking Tuesday and Saturday off from writing.
Hey, Christi. Good to see you again.
Count me in! This is my first participating and I’m looking forward to it.
My goals are:
writing 1000 words per day OR
deep revising 5 pages per day OR
brainstorming/plotting 3 scenes per day
Welcome, Deborah. The chat room’s a great place for brainstorming. Always more action when there’s more than one cloud. *G*
Hello fellow Rubies and participants!
I’m a baaaaad Ruby. I don’t participate near enough with my fabulous Ruby Sisters because of so many other time constraints and responsibilities.
The writing festival is a great opportunity for me to get involved while meeting those deadlines and comes at a good time for me.
I’m focused on
1) Getting through the rewrite on a proposal for my option book with Kensington
2) Revising my Ruby GH finalist manuscript which I plan to publish indie-style
3) Get a jump start on writing umpteen blogs for my upcoming blog tour bash promoting my debut, FEVER, releasing late Feb.
So yes, I need focus and friends.
I earn a point when:
~ write 1,000 words OR
~ deep-revise 20 pages OR
~ polish 40 pages OR
~ cut above requirements in half on Friday or Sunday, my travel days for work OR
~ write 1 blog AND
~ take a walk or do other exercise OR
~ use a timer to limit my Twitter activity
Looking forward to playing with you all!!
Joan
Great to see you, Joan!
How great that FEVER will come out during the Festival!!!
I’m really looking forward to it!
Wow, lots of great stuff happening here! I love the enthusiasm and hope I can keep up.
My goals. Write 500 words/day OR revise 5-10 pages of WIP 2 OR Enter one contest OR Complete one class assignment OR Attend one chapter meeting OR Take one day/week off OR Read one novel.
My long-term goal is to complete two submissions that are on my desk and start a new project. (at least three chapters). And I plan to all this wearing a RSS WWF t-shirt.
Thanks for putting this together. KB
Love your goals, Kelley—especially the wardrobe part! *G*
I’m betting those t-shirts have some awesome magic powers!
Kelley, wear that T-shirt proudly. Good luck and welcome.
My goal is to write 10 pages/week, so that comes out to about 1.5 pages/day. My schedule is crazy, so I wanted room to meet the goal without writing daily. Working on finishing a historical novella that I hope will follow up an April release.
Also need to update my webiste, and it’s almost ready to go, so when I do that, I’ll get a point
And trying to get back to blogging a couple times a week, so when I post a blog (about writing, of course!) I get a point.
This was great for me last year and I’m looking forward to it!
Great to have you back!! Good luck!
Hey there Rubies!
Another newbie here excited to join the WWF!
My goals are:
– writing 500 words/day OR
– deep revising 5 pages/day OR
– final polish on 15 pages/day OR
– “Don’t even think about WIP on Sunday!”
Cheers!
B.B.
Welcome, B.B.. I really love the last goal!
Good luck, and be sure to join the sprints!
Welcome BB. Good luck on reaching your goals.
First off… HEAR YE HEAR YE, NIGHT-OWLS & FOLKS IN WEIRD TIMEZONES (like me), DON’T MISS THE SPRINT TONIGHT AT MIDNIGHT EST!!!
And now, on to Goals! I’m gonna break the rules a bit, because daily goals do NOT work for me & I’m not eligible for prizey goodness anyway, so I might as well play by my own rules.
-WEEK ONE: Complete First Draft Revision of Rue & send to betas ASAP. (And any writing I get done beyond that while babysitting my sister’s 3 kids while she & her husband are in Vegas is bonus.)
-WEEK TWO: Complete Final Revision of FK & send to my editor.
-WEEKS 3-7: 10K new on NK. (Even if I get selected for Jury Duty.)
Cool, a midnight sprint!
That’s 9 p.m. for me, so if I can get the kidlets to bed, I’ll join you!
I’ve been so busy all day with the Festival starting, I haven’t written anything yet!
Hi everyone!
My goals:
10 deep edit pages minimum each day
2 new pages minimum on an unfinished work each day
So sweet of you all to do this! And you couldn’t have picked a better time of year.
Hey, there, Unsinkable sister!!
You know the Festival’s tag-line is “Finally, a writing festival that doesn’t span a major holiday. (You know women are running it!)”
Probably a dumb question – I haven’t seen any other gentlemen posting here, but is this a “ladies only” festival?
Oh no, Tom. EVERYONE is welcome to join. We’re just a little overrun with women
But please, join in. You likely won’t be the only man. We had a few last year. Also had a couple participating in the sprints, so I hope to see you there, too!
Spectacular, thanks!
As far as scoring, 1 point each for:
- 1500 words in a day
- An hour-long research or brainstorming session
- 5 scenes fully plotted and mapped out on notecards
Great to have you joining us, Tom!!
Be sure to check out the writing sprints (you can find all the info on the rsswwf.com site, which you can jump to by clicking the blue Participant badge in the upper-righthand corner of this page. The chat room info and schedule is in a bright blue box in the upper-lefthand corner of the rsswwf.com page).
I’m so excited to be here.
My goals:
1. Write 500 words a day, which will finish the novel I started during NaNoWriMo. I’m at 30,000 now.
2. Write with full concentration and no TV interferance from family members for at least 2 hours.
Great goals, Cindy! Good luck!!!
Oh goodness! So many new and returning people!! I’m so excited to see everyone, and so excited for all the enthusiasm. Seems our sprints started off with a BANG this morning. Hope to see more of you with me tonight from 7:30 – 9pm EST.
As for me and my goals, I hope to get the first 100 pages and synopsis of my new book finished, as well as do whatever edits will be heading my way any day now. Won’t know exactly what I can accomplish until I see the extent of the edits, but will be shooting for 100 pages of the new book.
Here are how my points will be totalled:
2 hours a day (plotting, writing, or editing), OR
1,500 new words a day
Rats! I’ve got critique group tonight, but I’ll be sprinting with you in spirit.
~Hugs~
Patti
Hmm..that sprint starts in just about an hour. Wish I could join, but I’ve been doing Festival stuff most of the day and MUST get some paperwork done for something else in the next couple hours.
Will definitely join at that hour another day!
I need to check out tomorrow’s sprint schedule. I’m determined to make it into the chat room this year!
Hi all, I’m ready to come back into the Sisterhood and what better way than to set some writing goals? Like Vivi, daily goals don’t work for me and, also like Vivi, I’m not eligible for prizes. So, with that, I commit to write at least five hours a week or a total of 35 hours by the end of this challenge. This goal will appear simple to some, but at this point, I need to keep it attainable.
Hey June!!!! Hope you’re doing well!
Smart, June. Hope all is well with you.
Great to have you back, June!
And, definitely, the spirit of the Festival is “make it work for YOU!!” So your goals sound great!
Welcome back, June. Happy writing!
So glad to have you back, Ruby Sis!!! ~D~
This is fantastic! Our local RWA chapter just had a workshop by a project manager on how to tackle writing projects. I commit to writing 2000 words a day plus revising my Nanowrimo 2011 book.
That sounds like a great workshop. Good luck, Tara!
I’m in, too, and excited about it.
My goals: polish to my satisfaction the blasted book I’ve almost finished and send out queries while plotting and writing the next story, which currently only has two opening scenes. Three hours a day except Thursdays, when my life always runs off the rails.
I’m excited too, Kate! Good luck!
My life is nuts during basketball season — 3 kids playing this year — so I’m keeping my goal simple and will be revising 20 pages a day.
Oh wow, you will be busy. LOL. Excellent goal! Good luck!
Heidi, I think the KISS principle will serve you well. Good luck.
Sounds like plenty to me.
Another first-timer here, hoping to finish my NaNo novel, then start revising it, all the while keeping up with my critique group and family and fitness goals. I’m looking forward to the sprints!
Daily goals:
Write 500 words OR
30 minutes butt-in-chair OR
Critique for one of my awesome CPs OR
40 minutes of exercise PLUS 20 minutes of craft reading (that should cover weekends)
Thanks for hosting!
Welcome, Sandra! I love that you added fitness goals to your list. Good luck!
I’m in! First-timer here. My goal will be to write 1000 words a day until my manuscript is finished. If I complete the manuscript before the deadline, then I’ll earn points thereafter by revising/polishing 15-25 pages per day.
Welcome, Amy. Good to see you here. Have fun.
Welcome Amy. How many words do you need to finish the manuscript?
Hi, all -
I missed the festival last year, but am looking forward to participating this time. I may have to set my point goals each week based on a few outside commitments.
My goals for the length of the festival:
1. Write morning pages each day
2. Complete current WIP
For this week, I will earn a point if I:
1. Revise or storyboard for one hour OR
2. Read 50 pages of CPs manuscript OR
3. Spend time with my grandmother or mother (making a quick visit back home this weekend and want to be able to give them all my attention)
Thanks, Rubies, for setting up this fun festival!
Kelsey
Welcome, Kelsey! Excellent goals. Thanks for joining us!
Because I am on an extreme deadline, my goal is to write 2,000-2,500 words per day. That will be my one point until I am finished with the ms. After that ( if there is an after), one point will be 20 pages of revision per day.
So excited for everyone!
I feel your urgency! Good luck with those deadlines.
Thank you, Hope! ~D~
Okay, so I looked at my deadline. 2,000 words a day? Was I crazy????
If I am going to have any hope of meeting it my deadline, I’m going to change my goal to 5,000 words per day. Once the first draft is finished, then my point will be to rewrite/revise (deep edits) 20 pages per day.
Not sure what I was thinking…
Hello Everyone!
Brand new this year and looking forward to it. Much more doable to me than NANO (which I’ve signed up for but never finished since 2008).
My one and only goal for earning a point a day is
WRITE 500 WORDS DAILY
A small, easily obtainable goal. *IF* I can put my mind and motivation to it, which I’m not always good at doing.
I have a brand new idea that my muse has been very excited about, so we shall see.
I do also have an extra goal to write for my Library’s Adult Creative Writing Contest (5k max, by Jan 31).
Looking forward to this!
Steph
Beautiful, Stephanie! I LOVE simplicity!!
You’ll get tons done! Enjoy the Festival!
Welcome Stephanie. May you reach and exceed all those goals.
I hope to finish my NaNoWriMo novel.
My goals:
-writer 500 words a day or
-deep revise 8 pages a day or
-brainstorming/outlining/freewriting for 20 minutes a day or
-read one chapter a day on a writing craft book or
-take 1 day a week to relax with family and friends
Can’t wait to see how far I get!
delia
Great goals, Delia! I’m with you, I can’t wait to see how far I get. The ms I”m working on is actually due VERY soon, so I’d better get really far. LOL.
Good luck!
My goals:
2 hours of Butt-in-chair time 5 days per week. (with the intent to do as many conveniently timed Sprints as possible!)
I have three manuscripts that need to be heavily revised.
Liz
You can do it, Ruby Sis!!!!
Hi Everyone,
I’m back for the second year of the WWF. This year my goals are:
1. One hour a day (M-F) working on my WIP.
2. One hour a day (M-F) working on things that are writing related. (eg. reading a craft book, doing critiques for my CPs, judging contest entries, etc)
My weekend goals are:
1. Spend an hour cleaning, decluttering.
2. Spend one hour on something fun!
Welcome back, Kate!!!
I love the weekday/weekend goal-setting! Very smart!
I pledge to write 1,000 words a day five days a week. I pledge to take Saturday and Sunday off. Yay!
Great goals, Caroline. Days off are important to recharge those creative batteries!
Thanks for joining us. Remember we’ll have sprints to help you write those 1000 words.
My goals:
- revise one chapter
- read a YA book (research, I promise) for an hour or more
- research for two story ideas
- take 2 days off per week
Hi Beth,
Welcome to the writing festival. I particularly like your second goal. I think reading books is definitely a part of writing them.
I’m in! I will earn a point every time I:
–write or revise 5 pages
–write 5 pages in journal
–listen to *and take notes on* a writing lecture (I have lots of conference talks on mp3)
Amanda, I like your last goal. It’s important to take time to work on craft. I always buy those tapes and I never seem to find time to listen to them. Good idea! And Good luck.
So glad to see so many ready to get this started. Off course some of us started off with a bang with sprints this morning (Waving at you gals) and we not only have gals participating, but we have gentlemen present as well. Lucky man to have all these women to himself!
Oh, and I already ordered my t-shirt. I love it and can’t wait to wear it while I kick my goals’ butt!
Welcome, everyone, and let’s rock this together!
I’m off to order a tee-shirt too. It’s just so hard to choose…
Enjoyed the sprint this morning! Thrilled to be back again this year. So ready to get going on the new project! Thanks Rubies n groupies! Fun!
I get a point if I write two hundred words a day.
Excellent, Ellie, and welcome to the Festival!!
Hello everyone! I hope I’m not to late to join AND that I’m doing this right! lol
My goal:
-to finish my current WIP
-enter at least one contest
My daily point:
-write at least one hour a day on my WIP
-work at least 25 minutes a day on brainstorming for next book in the series.
-work at least 25 minutes a day on contest entry
Good luck everyone!
You’ve done it just right, Stephanie! (And, really, it’s never too late to join….)
Do go over to the rsswwf.com site (you can just jump there from here if you click on the blue Participant badge in the upper righthand corner of this site). Then look in the upper right of the rsswwf.com site and look in the upper right corner for the word “register.”
Click that to fill out your profile and be 100% “official.” (We’re not terribly bureaucratic around here, though, so do it however it works for you!)
Thanks Elisa!
On my way there now
What a wonderful writing festival. I had big plans for the next two months and this is going to really help me stay on track.
As my process is to handwrite new pages or revisions, and then key them into my manuscript, my goals include both. I know I’ve set a lot here, but it’s all to make sure I have multiple ways to earn a point.
My goals:
~ Deep revisions to 15 pages or
~ Key in revisions to 30 pages or
~ Write or key in 500 new words or
~ Polish 30 pages or
~ Keep butt in chair for an hour and contemplate the above or
~ Read motivational blog/article
Rubies, I thank you again for hosting this, and I wish everyone the best of luck with their goals!!!
Woo-hoo, Unsinkable Sister!
So glad you’ll be with us! Great goals! You’ll get tons done!
I was dragged kicking and screaming into this by another writer friend who insisted I was too grumpy to do this! But as soon as I signed up, I realized this is EXACTLY the kick in the pants I need. All of this writing focused energy will help keep me on track as I finish polishing one ms and start/continue the draft of another.
Thanks so much for pulling this together!
Woo-hoo! Glad to have you!!
We even have grumpy Rubies, so no worries about fitting in! (And we really do have enough positive energy to get anybody working!)
Were you looking at me when you used the word grumpy, Elisa? :p
I missed finishing up with NaNoWriMo so I need to get caught up on my progress needs for my book so I am going to write 500 words a day though I will have to miss a few days when I have my baby. Hopefully I can succeed despite the welcoming of a new member to the family.
Hurray on the (soon-to-be) new baby!!
Just make “do what I need to do for my gorgeous and adorable offspring” be one way to earn a point, and you’ll be fine!
Good luck with everything!!
Oooh! Congratulations on the soon-to-be new addition to your family, Shannon. I think you deserve to take a day or two…or seven off!
Hi all! I’m excited about being part of this fantastic and creative group!
I’ve thought about just what goals I need to set for myself this next 50 days and I decided that, rather than be too specific, I need to just WRITE. So, my goal is to spend at least one hour every day doing sometihng writerly, whether that’s researching, revising, reading a craft book, or writing as many words as I can.
Thanks so much for this great push! I needed it!
Sounds fabulous! Good luck in the Festival, Sarah!!!
Thanks, Rubies, for doing this in the dead of winter and right after the holidays. Nothing like group accountability to motivate!
I promise to do at least 3 hrs BICHOK 6 days/week as I make a final revision pass on the ms I’m querying and work on my current wip.
Cheers, everyone!
Great to have you back with us, Miranda!!!
Wow, haven’t been able to get over here yet. Lots of comments and goals, how exciting. Mine are similar to last year with one exception: I must get The Good Daughter on Amazon.
So: final ck for typos and The Good Daughter on Amazon
OR write 500 words a day
OR revise 10 pgs a day if I get a request for revisions
Good luck and have fun everyone!
What a great response, huh? I’m thrilled! Great goals, you! ~D~
How can I get officially registered for this campaign? Sent an email last night, but…
Today did super heavy revisions-actually complete rewrite: 4881 words. Not bad considering I had only a few hours to work between family obligations.
Wow, Rebecca! Fabulous progress!
All you need to do is to take part is to set up your own system for earning daily points (see the examples in today’s post, or look at what other people have said in their comments today.)
To get “officially” registered, click the blue Participant badge in the upper right of this page, and it will jump you directly to the special Festival Site (URL is rsswwf.com if you want to get there directly.) In the upper right of THAT page, you’ll see a link that says “Register.” Click that and you can formally register and get your own profile page where you can update your daily points.
Don’t worry if you don’t get to that today. We’re not very bureaucratic around here!
You found us on January 11 and got started with your work, and that’s all we care about. The whole theme of the Festival is “we want it to work for YOU!”
Thanks! I was actually already registered (lol). But for some reason I can’t get an image to upload. I’ve tried resizing to various KB but it won’t stick…
Man, I can’t believe it’s 11 p.m. and I’m just getting to this. But I didn’t forget! It’s just been a busy day…
Ok, I’ve been thinking about how to set up my personal scoring for a while and have officially run out of time to dither. So…what I want is to get myself to the keyboard on a regular basis. Most of the time, if I’m at the keyboard, I end up staying there–but getting my butt in the chair and my fingers on the keyboard when it’s 11 p.m. and I’m facing an early morning (like, um, today) is what’s hard. So I think I’ll declare my scores/goals as follows:
* I get one point every time I sit down and work on my book for a minimum of 10 minutes. The total time spent during any given session doesn’t add any points–I get one point, whether I spend 10 minutes writing or 3 hours. The goal is to get myself to sit down and write 4 times per week.
If I meet my weekly goal (sit down and write 4 times), I get all 7 points for the week. I CAN accrue extra points if I sit down more than 4 times (i.e., if one week I only sit down 3 times and the next I sit down 5 times, I’m still on track).
Weeks (for me) will start on Wednesday and end on Tuesday…with today’s “bonus” point as a freebie.
That’s it! Consider me registered!
Sounds great, Elise!!! I like your system!
Wow, look at all these comments!
My goals:
Final polish on old ms – 10 pages per day
First draft of new ms – 500 words per day
Good luck to all our participants!
This is such a cool idea and very timely for me. My self-imposed deadline for my current project is the end of February. But, looking over my record for the last two weeks, I’m not going to cut myself out of the running. So here’s what I’ve got: Write 500 words a day for 1 point. Or write an additional 700 words a day for a point. Or write 1,000 words a day for a point. Yeah, I can do that.
Okay that second one should read “write 700 words a day for a point.” Not good at math at this hours.
Looks great, Linsey–and sounds like perfect timing for you!
Welcome! We’re glad to have you! Be sure to check out the chat room sprints (you can learn more at rsswwf.com, the special Festival site, which you can jump to straight from here if you click the bright blue Participant badge at upper righthand top of this page.)
Whoops…looks like the blue Participant badge only shows up on the Ruby HOME page, and you don’t see it if the post isn’t the current one.
Anyhow, if you come back in to this post to read this message, go to the upper LEFT of this page and click the “Home” box, and it will take you to the page with the clickable Participant badge.
Or just type rsswwf.com into your browser.