Note for new arrivals: The 10K Day starts on the morning of Thursday, September 17. Your exact starting time is up to you.
“I Brake for Squirrels” (and 10K Day nuts)
WELCOME TO ALL those plucky writers who are participating today!
This is the place to post your check-ins.
To learn more about this event, check the special 10K Day section (see blog menu above). If you develop a case of writer’s block—or you need some extra ideas on what to write—you’ll find plenty of inspiring resources in the Write NOW! section.
DON’T FORGET TO TAKE REGULAR BREAKS!
You’ll regret it later (when you’re feeling fried) if you don’t take regular breaks. Even if you’re on fire with your writing, take your scheduled breaks.
Every two hours is recommended. Breaks are also for posting check-ins.
WHAT SHOULD YOU POST FOR YOUR CHECK-INS?
Comment moderation will be turned off for the day so your posts should appear right away. If you don’t see yours, try refreshing your screen.
Keep check-ins fairly brief:
1. You can mention your word count if you want to. If you’d rather not, please provide a general comment about your progress thus far.
2. You can also describe what you’re working on.
3. Feel free to mention how you’re feeling and how the day is going for you.
4. It’s always fun to hear what people are drinking, snacking on or listening to.
5. Check-ins only. Please DO NOT post your writing! (The comment section will become unwieldy if writers try to post stories/chapters from their novel.)
DON’T FORGET TO log out of forums, Facebook, Twitter, email, etc.
Go gettum, Tigers! – Milli
Good Morning 10K-ers! 🙂
Can’t work on my my book at the moment as I woke up to final edits for my next release. We’re trying to get it through for a book signing in October-so keep your fingers crossed for me 😉
Once that’s done (not much!) I’ll be digging into Redemption, my urban fantasy that is truly exciting!
Looking forward to seeing everyone today!
Warmly,
Jenny:)
Morning Milli and others.
Guess today it’s more screenplay work. Wowsa.
Twitter: fearofwriting
‘Morning, All!
I’ll be writing some travel articles based on recent travels (Sandusky and Toronto) plus some from our July trip to Montreal that I never had a chance to finish.
I’m planning to kick off by writing an outline for a screenplay that keep bugging me in my dreams last night.
– Milli
Hello all, I have been up since 5:00am and just now found ya’ll. Just getting started on Mikey Dog book. I have a hair appt. at 9 and Dad’s coming in at noon so dunno how much I can get done but I’m here and cheering everyone on. Let’s write.
Twitter: pattistafford
Good Morning Everyone!
I had planned to work on fiction today, but the “other” brain keeps poking me to get some work related things done. But I may just fool that brain and make up some off-the-wall tall tale.
Best of luck to everyone!
Break a pencil!
Patti
Hi everyone! I have two hours until my son is in school, so using this time to clear distractions, read previous chapters, and get my desk ready for some serious writing time.
I plan to write a new chapter that revisions are asking for in my traditional fantasy (prepping to resume querying), and work on my two contemporary fantasy WIPs as the words take me.
Good luck everyone!
Twitter: fearofwriting
Welcome, Mary! So glad you could join us today.
I hope you have a fun experience with the 10K concept. Sounds like you’re well prepared for the day :~)
I’m here! And unlike the past three months, I’m going to push for 10K today….maybe MORE! 😉
I’ll be working exclusively on my romance/ ghost story. I have an outline and I’m not afraid to use it. LOL!
Good luck everyone! 😀
Lois
Almost 9 a.m. here–got my manuscript turned in so I’m off to write. School’s Out 4Ever should be ready to go for the signing–hopefully 🙂
My starting word count today is 33, 432. I’m gonna see if I can’t turn that first three into a 4 at least 🙂
Warmly,
Jenny:)
Twitter: fearofwriting
Whoo Hoo, Jenny-Bug! Congrats on getting your book ready for the book-signing.
XOXO
It’s nearly 9:00 here in Bulverde, Texas, a pretty late start for me. We’re having a glorious, cool, breezy fall morning, the kind I remember as a kid and a real treat after three months of triple-digit temperatures and no rain. Hubby and I just spent twenty minutes weaving errant jasmine vines back through the right places in the arch after drinking several leisurely cups of coffee on the front porch. It’s going to be very hard for me to coop myself up in the house in front of a computer. I think it’s a write-out-on-the-deck day with a pencil and a Big Chief notebook. See y’all in about two hours.
Good morning all!
Listening to some pre-Idol David Cook music this morning for inspiration and wake up.
The idea for the day is to flesh out some scenes for a Western-ish storyline about a horse women in the late 1800’s-1900’s era. You know, all the trials and tribulations that carries her through life.
Good luck everyone!
Twitter: fearofwriting
Looks like we have everyone here now who RSVP’d except for Tracy. I expect she’ll be along shortly.
I’m so pleased to have all my friends here for this juicy writing day — plus our new friend, Feywriter — Welcome everyone!
I’m having a blast already. I decided to ad lib about my dreams for the future (I’ll be 50 in January, so a big milestone in life) and after writing it all down I can’t wait to start living the rest of my dreams.
Twitter: pattistafford
Susan – Yes, pen and paper on the porch with a glorious day. Sounds perfect.
I said I probably wouldn’t work on fiction, but I have managed 300 words on some new characters I created during FoW.
I’m also doing some research on two grave robbers and it so happens that one of the ladies who ran a boarding house of sorts, has the same last name as my main female character. What are the chances of THAT? It’s totally cool.
Happy Writing!
I’m here! It’s just after 9am here, and I got the kids off to school and ate breakfast, so I’m ready to go! I can’t believe I’m off to such an early start (I’m usually one of those after lunch to after midnight writers).
I hope everyone has a productive day!
Tracy
9:20, just got back from walking the kid to school, and ready to dive in.
First break: So far, I have written (by hand) 213 words on my protagonist. The sis-in-law showed up with meds for one of our dogs, so I had to stop in the middle of things. Now I’m headed back to the West with Grace and her not-yet-named gelding by the fire.
Keep up the great work!
Am taking an early break to give my carpal tunnel a chance to recuperate and to brew another pot of coffee. I have no idea how many words I’ve written because I am, indeed, on the deck with my pencil and Big Chief tablet. I think it’s about eight or so pages. My husband is mowing the yard (it finally grew after the 8+ inches of rain we had last week), and the smell is divine. The noise is a little disturbing, but we make do, don’t we? I’ve finally killed off the two characters that had to die, and now I’m back on with the light-hearted stuff, or so I hope. I”ll probably write a couple more hours and then have to call it quits.
Hey, I know what else I was going to say. The message in my daily dose of medicinal Dove dark chocolate today (one of them–sometimes I double-dose) said this: “Forget the rules and follow your instincts.” Pretty good advice for today, huh?
I’m taking my first break and have reached 2,720 words. Woohoo! I celebrated with two squares of Ugandan 80% cocoa dark chocolate! 🙂
Then my computer decided to act up and I had to reboot it. :/ Thank God I saved my work! LOL!
Anyway, I’m heading back to Maine to see what kind of encounter Orly will have with the ghost…and then with her love interest. 😉
Keep up the great work, everyone. You’re doing great!
See you in about two to three hours!
Lois
Twitter: pattistafford
Everyone is doing Awesome!
My word count isn’t that high, but it’s never about the count for me. It’s about being in love with my writer’s life. One day, I will do a 10K for word count. LOL.
My count is at roughly 1k. Not good, not bad, but I am making progress and getting things done that I needed to work on- all writing related so it’s all good.
Dove chocolates sound better than the silly fortune cookies!
First break. I’m starving. Good thing it’s lunch time. I’m heating up leftover potato soup, and have carrots and broccoli to snack on later.
Word count is just over 1k words. Been a long time since I wrote that much in one day, let alone under two hours. Woohoo!
Fey, that potato soup sounds good. I missed it this week at the writer’s group I went to. Drat! 🙂
I’ve got 1,155 words so far and my hand is telling me about it. I’m thinking about taking a drive into town to get a hamburger for lunch break.
So far, my lady Grace is reminiscing about her dead husband (though in the telling, he isn’t dead yet) and how she came to own her very special horse (the hubby rescued him on a trail ride and brought him home to her). Nest, I think I’ll come to know more about what she’s up to in the present, riding alone on the trail.
I’ll check back in in a bit.
I’m back after my hair appt. I wrote 3711 words before I left. I got through Mikey’s brother, Pat’s death. That was a tough one. I balled like a baby. I thought I was going to handle it fine but it hit me like a ton of emotional bricks. But it was very cleansing and it’s on paper and I don’t think it will be as hard when I go back to edit. Whew. Dad just drove up, an hour early so gotta run. I’ll try to get back to it later today. Good writing everyone. Glad to see everyone has made it and I just love this format. It really brings out my writing side. Again, thanks to my friend Milli. Of course I have banging away at the keys like a fool, who the heck knows if it makes any since at all. Probably not. But I think it is so much fun. Thanks Milli and, Susan, I have got to remember my chocolate next time, it looks like a trend. What a glorious day!
Twitter: fearofwriting
I’m up to 3,181 and having a grand ol’ time at the Opry.
Most of those words have been journal entries (haven’t journaled so much in ages!) plus some feedback for a new student in the FoW Online Course.
Off to grab a snack and start my third writing shift.
Hi guys! I’ve been meaning to post here before, but I never got around to it. I tried a couple of 10k days before, but only managed less than 3k each time because of work.
I really wanted to join you today, but work has been crazy so I haven’t had time to start. I might try to sneak a couple of paragraphs in a little bit and I’ll definitely try to write a little when I get home this evening. I’m going to try working on a prequel to my current novel-in-progress. There are a lot of plot holes and I think that the prequel might help.
Good luck to everyone!
Twitter: fearofwriting
Welcome, Rachel. Best of luck with finding some time to write today. Thanks for checking in! ~ Milli
P.S. Nearing 3K each time is still good stuff!
I’ve reached 6,892, so far, and I’m still going strong! 😀 Orly had her heart broken when her teenaged son, Nate, told her he wanted to stay with his dad, but after suffering through some unrelated emotional rollercoasters, she got another call from Nate in which he stated that he wants to live with her, after all. Orly’s feeling very elated at the moment! 🙂 The romance between Orly and Gabriel is progressing, too, although at a slow pace. After a rough past and a lot of heartbreak, she’s slowly learning to trust again.
Just taking a break to eat and post my progress on my blogs and to check my e-mail really quick.
Hubby will be fixing Ensalada Caprese tonight. Woohoo! It’s my favorite salad in the whole of the world: chopped tomatoes (preferably vine ripened), chopped mozzarella (as fresh as you can get it), chopped fresh basil and extra virgin olive oil. Yummy! 😛
And now I’m off to continue the saga that is Orly Mae Summer’s life!
Happy writing, everyone!
Lois
Time to stretch and shower. I need invigoration. I can feel my progress slowing down. My count is up to nearly 3k. Which is huge! Prior to this, my biggest recorded word count in one day was only 1500. I’ve doubled that and still have two hours until my son gets out of school. This is very exciting.
I’ve finished the chapter I’m adding to EotF. I’ll have to decide what to write next.
I’ve had an extra long break as I drove to town with the thoughts of getting a hamburger. But when I went to Dollar General for cat food, I saw potato soup (yes, in a can) and thought of Fey and my missed soup. So now I’m eating soup and crackers, waiting for the hubby to do his errand running and the son to get home from school before starting back in.
Lois, great job on leading the pack today!
Rachel, 3k is the best I’ve done thus far on a 10K day, too. So don’t sweat it, just do what you can do and enjoy the writing you can get to!
Twitter: pattistafford
Writing wise, I’m still basically at the same count I was earlier – only a few hundred more added to it. I did go in search of a theme for my Toodles McDougal story and got that all set up.
It seems that all my characters and stories have decided to gather in my head today – which would be great, but it’s a little much if you want to write about one and only one. LOL. They may all be plotting against me. LMAO!
Sounds like everyone is having a great day!
Write On!
Patti
Twitter: fearofwriting
The early risers (Jenny and Joe) must be writing their buns off and too busy to check in since daybreak. Hey, you guys still out there? ;~D
I’m at 4,224 and that’s where I’ve decided to stop. Still in recovery from adrenal fatigue. Doing much better lately . . . but I don’t want to push the envelope on that one. Extra rest and pacing myself’s the ticket.
I’ll check back periodically to see how ya’ll are progressing (had to say ya’ll in honor of the Texans here today).
Enjoy! ~ Milli
I am calling it quits today, too. The weather is just too pretty, plus the grocery shopping has to get done. I ate lunch and then typed up what I wrote in longhand this morning, less than 3000 words. I am definitely not winning the word-count trophy today, but it’s a start to the next part of my small-town “saga.” And Milli, my characters tend to say “y’all” a lot in it, but you probably already knew that. I will check back later to see how everybody is doing and to read back over everybody’s comments. I’m sure I’ve missed some gems in my mad endeavor to actually get some writing done today. Thanks, Milli, this was fun–again.
Yeah, I’m still alive Milli. I’ve gotten about 7000 words done. Most of it just rewrites/outlines etc for future work. I like where it’s going though.
You’re welcome, Maria. =D
Time to get my son from school, so don’t know how much more writing I’ll get in today. Total count is about 3700. I’m very happy with that for a first attempt. Still hoping I can work more in later.
Everyone is doing awesome! It’s great seeing the progress and experiences. 🙂
Maria: Thanks! You’re doing great, too!
Patti: Your Toodles McDougal makes me think of Hercules and Xena. 😛
I did it! I finished with 10,266 words. I’m stopping now because I have other things I need to do…and I still need to take a very late shower and have dinner.
A short excerpt:
I woke up around three-fifteen to find my feet were extremely cold. As I began to curl my legs closer to me, I noticed the figure standing over me. The figure was more like a shadow, but it seemed like a solid mass in the shape of a man wearing a long coat or cloak.
As I stared at the figure, it moved closer to me, making no sound. I could feel the air becoming steadily colder and I shivered, but I wasn’t sure it was from the colder temperature. I was afraid and I couldn’t move, for fear that any movement would cause it to do something awful.
The figure bent down near me and I felt a pressure on my chest. I found it increasingly difficult to breathe and I began to panic.
—–
It was great fun and I look forward to doing this again next month! 😀
Keep on keepin’ on, everyone! You can do it!
Lois
It’s 6:30 or so here in Arkansas. I made the mistake of curling up on the couch with one of the dogs and conked out for a while. Oh well. The body wants what it wants. 🙂
I going to try to get a bit more written, now that my mind is awake again. Congrats to Lois, who ran right through the 10K barrier, to Joe who’s written a hell of a lot today, and congrats to everyone else who has spent the day relishing in this craft called writing!
So much done today. Off to cook dinner. Toodles.
Well guys, I think I’m done for the day. I’m up to 1,786 words and just about to kill off a character. If I wake up at 3 or 4 am again, then I’ll probably finish him off. After all, the scene occurs in the middle of the night anyway. 🙂
It’s been great hanging out with everyone today. Til next time…take care!