Win an ARC of Blood Magic!

If you haven’t yet heard the news, Tessa is having a contest for an ARC of Blood Magic. I couldn’t pass up a chance to enter. All I had to do was pick my favorite story from the Merry Sisters of Fate . . . no problem . . . yeah . . . that was my first mistake.

*sigh*

I’ve been reading stories on the Merry Sisters blog for quite a while and narrowing it down to one proved harder than I thought it would . . . until I remembered this one. Though many of the stories are amazing, this one stands out to me. It’s one I remember and what I now think of when I hear “mermaid.”

If you want a chance to enter, click on over to the contest and see if you have an easier time of narrowing down your pick for favorite story.

Choose on!

Pray on Monday

The kids are home from school for MLK Day. I’m not able to write much when they’re home so I’d planned to sort through emails and blogs, post here about my progress, and finish up some critiques.

My plans changed when I read this: http://community.livejournal.com/debut2009/1059044.html

that had a link to  this: http://lkmadigan.livejournal.com/185246.html

My progress seems insignificant in light of such news. My thoughts and prayers are with Lisa and her family.

The first link will take you to a giveaway, and the second is to Lisa’s post where she shared her news. Even if you don’t enter the giveaway (I decided not to), I hope you’ll post on your blogs, twitter, Facebook, or whatever and let Lisa know we’re thinking of her.

Pray on.

What’s Up?

I’ve outlined the last part of the rewrite, and, after doing some additions and rearranging yesterday, I’m ready to dive into writing the end of the WIP today! YAY!

I’m not sure how long it will take me to get the end written, but I’m hoping to be finished by this time next week at the latest. Then I’ll do a few more revisions (yes, I revised before I was finished writing . . . I’m bad . . . very bad . . . don’t follow my example).

The new writing schedule seems to be working well for me. Though I will admit that I find it hard not to sit down and write after I get the kids home from school. Within a few minutes, we are busy doing chores and homework and the urge passes though so it isn’t too bad. I think much of it stems from the fact that I’m so close to the end that I just want to get it finished. LOL

Anyway, this has to be a quick update because it’s time to get busy writing.

What’s up with you on this Wednesday? Do you have any writing goals for 2011? If so, how’s it going so far?

Write on!

Tomorrow . . .

The kids go back to school. I don’t.

This makes me happy.

I’m looking forward to a day of writing and more snow melting.

Snow is cold. My house is cold and running the heater at the temperature I’d like is too expensive. I wear layers.

Though I’ll miss not attending ceramics classes every Monday and Tuesday, the hours of writing time I’ll gain will be well worth it.

I spent the first day of the new year catching up on a bit of sleep. New Year’s Eve we ended up jumping in hubby’s four wheel drive truck and heading to Flagstaff to get the kids. YAY! It took three hours to get there (usually it takes about two) and three hours and a little bit to get back (it was darker and more frozen on the way back), but it was worth the trip to have them home and not have to worry anymore.

We got home at about 11:30 pm so we stayed up to ring in the new year and then went to bed around 12:30. We slept until about 7:00 when the youngest got up and crawled into bed with us (believe it or not, I missed that)!

Being without my kids and not being able to reach them, really made me appreciate them more. Sure, my house is more of a mess now that they’re home (it was much easier to keep clean with just the three of us here), but the mess on the floor, the extra dishes, even the squabbles are precious to me because they mean I have my kids.

So, while I’m looking forward to the kids going back to school tomorrow, I’ll also be glad when they come home again.

I’ve made up a schedule for my writing and hope I can stick to it!

Monday-Thursday I will write from 9:00am until I go pick up the kids from school at 2:30pm. I may or may not take a lunch break (more than likely, I’ll just have some snacks next to the computer). I will not answer the phone. I will not check email. I will not blog (or read blogs), tweet, or Facebook (so scold me if you see me).

After I get the kids from school, we will do homework, chores, family time, and dinner. When the kids are in bed, I will read, write reviews, critique, blog, tweet, Facebook, or whatever (I’m going to try to watch less TV).

Friday I will have from about 11:00-2:30 for either writing, blogging, reading blogs, tweeting, Facebook, or whatever. It’s kind of my free day to do what I want (the late start is because I volunteer in JR’s classroom on Friday mornings).

Saturday and Sunday will more than likely be non writing days because I want to spend more time with my family (the kids are in bed right now or we’d still be playing games).

Another change is I’ve moved out of my bedroom . . . well, for my writing anyway.

My computer is now on the dining room table. That way, I won’t be tempted to watch TV or be distracted by my pile of TBR books. Of course I have to move the computer for breakfast and dinner, but it’s better than being distracted! Plus, I can be next to the laundry room and do laundry while I’m writing (though I WON’T fold it, just wash and dry it and put it in a pile on the couch until the kids come home *grin*).

That’s my plan. Of course, there will be Dr. appointments and other life things that will interfere with my schedule, but I still think having a schedule will help in the long run.

Do you plan your writing time? If so, how. If not, why not?

Plan on!