Your Work-in-Progress

[Tye Tyson]

So, how's that WIP coming along? Share with us how many words you're at, what your daily writing goals are, and any sticking points you're having with your WIP. Most of us have families and/or day jobs, how do you overcome those pleasant (and sometimes unpleasant *cough* *diaper change* *cough*) distractions?

[Elodie]

I also cannot concentrate when I know my hubby is doing something cleaning-related...But I´m lucky he plays PS3 (gives me some free time :-))

I don´t use a writing journal but probably should because I end with a lot of loose paper...

[PK Hrezo]

I always carry a little mini notebook for ideas... They hit me anywhere and everywhere... driving, church, etc. Sounds like a great book.... will have to check it out!

[Georgia McBride]

What a great discussion! Thanks for posting!

 

I have a completed novel and a partial in review with my agent with the hope they will go on submission in January, neither needing an additional round of revision. I have another completed novel I just received edits on that I have yet to start. It will likely go on submission in late January. I have a new WIP that is really just an outline that I started 2 days ago that I hope to complete at least one chapter on by the end of next week.

 

My daughter is in school all day and my son goes to pre-school 3 days/week/4 hours/day. I am a freelance editor which provides my income and so I must focus on that. I have 2 projects at the moment and am also working on an anthology which comes out in October 2012. Of course, there is YALITCHAT.ORG and the weekly chat and so, I am very busy. Because I don't HAVE to work on my current WIP at the moment, meaning I have completed my current writing obligations (except for the short story for the anthology due in March), I can take my time with this WIP and work on my edits for the Middle Grade knowing there's no immediate pressure. 

[Tye Tyson]

It's amazing how much we all have on our plate, yet we are still getting things done. Anybody that wants to write because they think it would be easy needs to read this post!

 

When your actively writing a first draft, do you set daily goals as far as word count? Or do you just see how it goes?

[Elodie]

Well I try to set myself daily goals (currently 1000 words per day during the week). It´s working pretty well so far. I just reached 40k! :-)

 

[Ash Yuhas]

Since I hand write the first draft, I go by pages. I like to get at least three front and back pages a day, six on a good day. Handwriting is slower, but it allows me to process every thought and word carefully...and it prevents me from getting distracted!

I had no idea I had written so much until I started it typing it up. Practically passed out when I realized I had written 95Kish words.

[Elodie]

Wow! I now passed through the 43k and I´m already impressed with myself, lol :-)

I used to write on paper but I always typed it right back up. Now that I have a netbook I do it directly.

Congrats on getting 95k :-)

 

[Elodie]

Wow! that is indeed quite a lot on your plate! Congrats for managing all of this (and thanks for YALITCHAT.org, I just joined but it really seems like a good place to be)

[Ruth Frances Long]

I have a full on submission with my editor for Treachery at the moment. I'm also waiting on notes from my agent on another full (an adult urban fantasy set in Ireland).

Currently I'm poking at a YA wip set in a magical library. Slow going on this one unfortunately. A few hundred words every other day kind of thing, but that's largely because I have a lot on at the moment and now, with the run up to Christmas its probably going to get even more hectic. But any progress is progress. :) It's at about 13k at the moment (I think).

My goal was always 1000 words a day, but last summer I cut it down to 500 a day. And that ended up being the book that's currently on submission.

[Tye Tyson]

I agree that progress is progress. Sometimes the goal can be as simple as "write every day" or "write six days per week" I have a goal of 2500/day, but that's only because I am trying to hurt my brain. Secretly, I want to destroy it. Sometimes I get 700/day, other times I get 3000/day. I heard somewhere that it is wise to set goals for the week. That helps alleviate some of the pressure when the muse is not cooperating and you come up short of a daily goal.

Best of luck with Treachery! And anything set in Ireland sounds good to me. My ancestors are from Armagh, Ireland. :)

[Ruth Frances Long]

Armagh is lovely!

The weekly goal is a great idea. I work on the principle that if I set a fairly low wordcount, and then make it, I feel good about that. And if I exceed it I feel great. I tend to go easy on myself unless I have a deadline. Writing every day is a challenge right now. :)

[Katie Wright]

I am finally done with exams so now I am working on plot / world building for my MG fantasy. :) I hope I can get it all done within this next week so I can start on the MS. :)