Author Christine d’Abo

I can’t believe the week is over half gone. I frigging blinked again LOL! Sooooo….how is everyone making out with the Kick In The Pants Challenge so far this week? I’ve actually met my 5000 word goal somehow, so I’m adding another 5k. I’m hoping I can make it!

How are you making out??

Now, I’m not about to claim I came up with this idea and will give credit where it’s due, but I have to say it really worked for me tonight. The RWAC RWA chapter have been getting together recently at a local coffee shop to do what they call write ins. They sit and write for 30 mins or so, and then they take a break. They talk, relax, recharge, then sit and have another writing session. It is very successful for the people who go.

I also thought it would be a perfect thing for me to try. Now, since I’m no longer geographically near them all (sob), I thought I’d do this virtually. But it’s not as much fun on your own…so I grabbed Amy. We had a ball…well I did at least.

In an hour and a half, I manged to write 1830 words. We ran it through IM, and it worked really well. I would set the time frame to write, we’d get ready and then WRITE! No checking email, surfing, etc. When our half hour was up, we reported our word counts and chatted for 15 mins.

Wow was this awesome!! I’m definately going to be doing this again, as I find I work really well in short periods like this. Plus, by giving myself permission to get up and take a break, and better than that, have it scheduled, I found it helped focused me. I got more done in those 30 mins than I would have if I’d planned to write for a whole evening.

The awesome news is I’ve passed my writing goal for the week already!! So I’m officially tacking on another 5k words to push myself to continue.

What strategies do you use to keep you motivated??

My good friend Amy was kind enough to Roar! me the other day. I’m touched that so many people seem to be enjoying my writing. Not only because it reinforces my desire to write when I’m having a down day, but it’s flattering to know that people are taking a measure of enjoyment out of something that’s come from deep inside me.

Part of this award has me giving three reasons why I keep a book. Well, if you saw my bookshelf you’d see I love my books. But I have a special shelf for those books I re-read.

CHARACTER GROWTH

There is something about watching a character change and grow throughout the course of a book or series of books. They don’t have to be big changes either–in fact the more subtle the change, the more powerful the end result. I tie the emotional journey of the character with this. The more they suffer, the more I love it!

CONFLICT

I  have to have a strong conflict in the story if I’m going to keep it. Again, this doesn’t mean explosions on every page (though I tend to do that myself!), but rather that deep emotional conflict that seems to tear a character apart. The end result is them becoming a stronger person.

SEXUAL ATTRACTION

 Oh I loves me the sexual tension. The heated looks that aren’t acted upon. The shivers and sighs after a close encounter. I can forgive many, many things if the sexual tension is strong.

Now its my turn to award this to three other writers!

Colleen Gleason. I’m a total fan girl of Colleen’s, but it’s for all of the reasons listed above. The world she’s build for her vampire stories, the sexual tension between Victoria and Max, and Victoria and Sebastian….whoa Nelly! I can reread her books any day!

Kelley Armstrong. Not only is Kelley a kind, generous lady, she’s one hell of a writer. I “discovered” her when she came and did a talk at one of our chapter meetings. Since then, she’s joined us and we have the advantage of her wisdom. The otherworld books are must reads!

Margaret Moore. If you don’t read Margaret’s blog, you are missing out. If you don’t read Margaret’s books…you’re REALLY missing out. I love the emotional depth of her characters, and how her heroines work within the confines of their worlds, but come across as strong, independant women. And I’d take any one of her heroes home with me. Like now!

Who are some of the writers on your keeper shelf?

I had a wonderful surprise this weekend. I found out that both Chasing Phoenix and Sweet and Spicy Spells received five angel reviews from Fallen Angels!!

I’m pumped because this is the first review we’ve received for Sweet and Spicy. It was so much fun to write it, its nice to see people are liking it.

You can read the review for Chasing Phoenix here. And the review for Sweet and Spicy Spells here.

*giggles and does a snoopy dance*

Believe it or not, it’s Sunday everyone! That means it’s check in time for all my kick in the pants friends to stand and be accounted for.

This week was a hard one for me. I managed to reach my goal though, so I’m super bouncy about that. I squeeked in at 5262 words of my 5000 word goal. My biggest challenges had to do with my time management, and actually having the energy to write when I did find the time.

But I have a plan…

Now every day on my lunch hour I walk to my local Tim Horton’s (Canadian coffee shop for those of you not in the know), order a medium steeped tea, and sit and write. Then I walk back to work. I find the fresh air clears my head so I can actually get some energy, the writing means I make progress on my story, the tea keeps me awake, AND I actually get a break during the day. I only started doing this on Thursday so we’ll see how I make out this week.

My goal for next week - 5000 more words.

How are the rest of you doing? If you haven’t made your goal this week, remember its okay. Take a minute to see what it was about the past week that prevented you from accomplishing your goal. Is it something you can adjust for this week? Was your goal reasonable? Too hard? Too easy? Let us know!

If you need advice on anything, plost your questions and I know you’ll get tons of responses from everyone.

So, who’s next?? How did you do and what is your goal for next week?

I hate it when this happens. This song has been stuck in my head for two days now. ARAHAAGGGGGG!!

I know I was supposed to prompt you all on Wednesday to give me an update on how you’re making out with your writing…but I forgot. Okay, so I’m not so good at leading the writing challenge LOL!

That said, Sunday is fast approaching, which means your goals should be almost done.

Mine are not there yet…

But I have a new system so that I actually get some writing done in the daytime. It’s called “taking a lunch break”. This is a new concept for me, but it worked really well yesterday. I’m about 2000 words done of my 5000 word goal. I plan to get more written today and lunch and the bulk of it finished tonight.

How are you making out??

So while I was waiting for my daughters tonight, my husband and I went to the book store. I somehow managed to resist buying any new novels, but I did find myself over at the reference section. Now I’m not normall one to pick up writing how to books, but there was one tonight that caught my eye.

It’s called Writer’s Guide To Character Traits by Linda  N. Edelstein. This book is jammed packed with different traits that people display in various situations in life. Want to know what a serial killer would do? Linda has a list of behaviors. Wondering what a “Positive” relationship between a woman and her mothe-in-law is? Linda has a lists.

I was standing in the store, walking around reading this book (and walking into people) totally fascinated. I really think this will let me take my characters a lot deeper than I could have gone before.

It’s also giving me lots of ideas of traits for my characters in the urban paranormal I’m writing. Which is fantastic, because it’s sparking my creative drive again!

I’m off to read for a bit…then I have work to do.

I don’t normally get hit hard when I hear about a celebrity death. But I have to say, when I read about Heath Lege passing away today, I was shocked. My heart goes out to his family and friends. Someone so young shouldn’t die.

I’m super excited that everyone is going to be joining me for this mid winter boost. I know it’s certainly a motiviation for me to know there will be a bunch of you working hard beside me.

I’m about to sit down now and get my word count done for the day. I’m starting a bit later than normal, but I’m still going to aim for my 1000 words.  I just fixed the final line of chapter 4 (it was really bothering me and I couldn’t move on!) and I’m ready to rock on chapter 5.

But before I get going, I need to pimp a good friend of mine who finalled in the Brava contest!! Eve Powers story Unexepectedly Expecting, is a fantastic read (yes, I’ve been lucky enough to read the whole story and I LOVED it!!). She could really use your votes! You can check out all of the Brava finalists here, and you can vote for your favorite here.  You simply need to be registered on the boards to vote. Simple!!