“I Brake for Squirrels” (and 10K Day nuts)
WELCOME TO ALL those plucky writers who are participating this week!
This is the place to post your check-ins for Wednesday, February 23 and/or Saturday, February 26.
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 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?
If you don’t see your comment right away after posting, 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!
DON’T FORGET TO log out of forums, Facebook, Twitter, email, etc.
Go gettum, Tigers! – Milli
Twitter: pattistafford
When did we get to the end of the month? Yikes, I was thinking this was next week. Duh! LOL.
I’ve tweeted it for you.
I’ll be working today but not focusing on word counts, just getting off my butt and getting these little things done today. 🙂
Hope everyone has an awesomely productive day!
Twitter: fearofwriting
Thanks for the Tweet for the 10K Day, Pattikins 🙂
Twitter: pattistafford
You’re most welcome. 🙂
I was just wondering how tacky it would be if I re-dated the post at Scribe each month to republish the 10K day event, as opposed to writing a new one each month–because I never seem to get it done to promote you. But changing the publish date is so simple even a writer can do it. LMAO!
What’s your thoughts? It’s already indexed I believe.
Twitter: fearofwriting
That would be perfectly legit. In fact, that’s what I do! I’d go nuts if I had to write a new post for both the RSVP and check-in pages every month. So I just copy them to a new post and change the dates. Why reinvent the wheel? LOL!
And thanks for the promo. I appreciate everything you do for FoW.
😀
I know. Me too. I don’t know where the month went. Will be organizing and maybe some writing this afternoon.
Twitter: fearofwriting
Peache, so good to have you back. Hope you have some writing fun today. XOXO
Hi all!
Since I have a job interview today I’ll be writing before and after that, so I won’t be doing any word count today either.
Have a wonderful day and may all your words flow…
🙂
Twitter: fearofwriting
Good luck with your job interview, Catherine.
🙂
Twitter: fearofwriting
I’m getting a late start today after a marathon day yesterday building a new website. I’m still in my PJs, drinking coffee and clearing the decks so I can think about today’s writing projects.
Here’s my new site for Writer’s Muse Coaching Service:
http://writersmuse.biz
Twitter: pattistafford
The new site is beautiful! I love it-love it-LOVE IT!
You are so rockin’ with the new stuff. I will add it to the Scribe site. 🙂 I better write myself a note, my brain has gone completely wonky on me today. LOL
Hugs!
Twitter: fearofwriting
Thanks for looking at my new site, Pattikins. And for adding it to Stafford Scribe. You’re a honey!
😀
That’s some site you created in a marathon day Milli. It looks really good – concise, inviting and cheerful! Good luck with your launch.
catherine ====:~)
Twitter: fearofwriting
Thanks, Catherine! That makes me glow inside. 🙂
Checking in…
Okay, I’m taking a break and a little behind where I wanted to be. It’s 11 A.M. my time, and I’m just a hair shy of 3k. Better get cracking! 🙂
Twitter: fearofwriting
Hi Sue,
Great to have you joining us and welcome to the 10K Days at FoW. And you had already done just short of 3K before you first check-in. Fabulous! Sounds like you’re off to a romping good start.
~ Milli
I might have to pack it in at 8,350, but that’s 8,350 words of a story that didn’t even exist in my head before I started this morning, so that’s an incredibly productive day in my book. I’ll be participating in one of these days again!
Sue
Twitter: fearofwriting
That’s a terrific word count, Sue! And great news on the story that got created from nothing. Sounds like you had an excellent day of writing.
The dates for next month will be the same as this month – Wed the 23rd and Sat the 26th. I’ll put you on the reminder list and Tweet you when the RSVP page goes up.
See you next time!
Where has the day gone???? I did organize my Mikey dog stories. I did a little editing but really not that productive. Although, if it weren’t for 10K I probably wouldn’t have gotten to it yet. So productive, right? And quit beating myself up.
And Milli, I just checked out your new site. How cute is that? I am sending it to a new friend who wants to write a book about her horse.
Twitter: fearofwriting
Yeah, quit beating yourself up, woman. LOL!
I think you did great. 10K Days don’t always have to be for marathon word counts. Sometimes just setting the day aside to do writing-related things is important too.
Thanks for visiting my new Writer’s Muse site – and thank you for the referral! I appreciate that a thousand per cent!
You got more done than me Marilyn!
I hardly accomplished a thing, but the take away for my day is a new part time job, so I can live with that!!!
Twitter: fearofwriting
Congrats on the new job, Catherine!!
Thanks a bunch. (For some reason this didn’t go through the first time.) 🙂
Good Morning,
It’s 10am in the UK, I have a feeling I’ll be making up the time tonight.
Time to tackle the first article.
Kate
Twitter: fearofwriting
Good morning, Kate.
It’s 9:22am here in Ohio so I’m getting a late start too. But first I need coffee. 🙂
Hope your writing is humming along so far.
~ Milli
Good morning all. It’s 7am in California and I also need a cuppa before starting! I’m going to work on the projects I missed doing on Wed.
Enjoy the day!
🙂
Twitter: fearofwriting
‘Morning, Catherine!
Enjoy your cuppa and I hope it’s a beautiful morning in Cally. I’m rapt because we have a sunny day here in usually gloomy-winter-skies Ohio.
~ M
Hi Milli ~ Yes it is a beaut full sun morning in Northern CA. So happy to hear you have that too! It must have come just for you to jazz up your inspiration to tap tap tap away on those keys today.
~~happy writing~~
catherine =====:~)
Good morning! This is my first 10K Day. Earlier this week, I wrote 3,300 words and I’m counting that as part of the goal. Today, my goal is to write 7K but if I get to 5K today I’ll be happy. (Have plans for tonight!)
Thank you for inspiring, hope to inspire someone else too!
I’m off to the races to set the keyboard on fire. 😉
Crystal
Twitter: fearofwriting
Welcome, Crystal. So pleased to have you joining us.
Wonderful to hear you’re already 3,300 up on your goal. You gave me an adrenalin rush when you said, “I’m off to the races to set the keyboard on fire.”
Have fun! ~ Milli
Hi Crystal ~ My first 10K day was only a few months ago. Like Milli, I got VERY inspired when I read you are off to the races…
I want to set my keyboard on fire too!
All the best for your first day,
catherine 🙂
Hi Catherine and Milli,
I have to share that sometimes I need to give myself a pep talk to get going. Sometimes the humor helps me laugh and realize this should be fun (and funny). I’ll imagine that I’m literally burning up the keyboard! (Catharine, are you on Twitter? I’ll follow you!)
Thanks for letting me know that I was able to inspire, that’s what I hope to do. We’re not alone ever if it sometimes may feel that way.
As for my check-in today:
So far I have written some marketing material for my new Facebook page. The material consisted of personal email messages to friends requesting that they like my new page. That counts as word count but I’m estimating. I’d say I’m at 1000 words. Not as much as I’d hoped but now I’m opening my MS and writing a high school scene. Lord help me with that one!
Crystal
Crystal, if you tell me how to find your FB page, I’ll like it for you. 🙂
Your self-pep talk sounds fun! If you ever want to share one of your pep talks here on the blog, here are a couple of pages where you’ll find more comments about the 10K Days (I hope this HTML works):
Peachebean’s story “All I can say is just try it out”
Mindy Speaks Her Fear About the 10K Day
Good luck with your high school scene! 🙂
Hi Crystal ~
Pep talks and humor definitely work! But for me imagination tops them all! Flames from a well used keyboard is a nice graphic description.
At this point, I don’t do Twitter yet because squeezing that in when I already have a boatload of activities in my life would be stressful. You can contact me on my blog through my recent post and do be sure to give me your FB page.
Good luck with your next scene! I’m off for a break…
catherine
Twitter: fearofwriting
Whew. Had some interruptions so I’m just now getting down to it. Fresh cup of coffee, journal open to a pristine new page. Here’s my Tweet:
Kicking off my #10KDay by journaling re: passion ~ inspired by http://bit.ly/hya67k (see “What do you look for in a writer?”) | #amwriting
Twitter: fearofwriting
Finished my journaling and it was as inspirational as I was hoping. Now I feel even more fired up for my main project of the day: finishing the latest new course for the FoW course line-up.
But first . . . that journaling made me hungry. Off to forage for some vittles.
I’m afraid my day didn’t go quite to plan but I did manage to write one new article.
On the last 10K day I almost hit the target so I know for next time that I need a completely clear diary with a husband who is out of the house!
Still, I managed to write on a Saturday which usually gets overrun with other commitments.
Thanks again for running these days, and I will plan better for the March dates.
Well done everyone on your writing achievements today.
Sorry to hear your day didn’t behave. You’re in good company though—nearly all of us had a 10K Day like that on Wednesday, except for Sue W. who did 8,350 words (Go, Sue!). As you say, writing on a Saturday can be challenging.
Look forward to having you join us in March. Ciao for now. 🙂
Congratulations on your writing the new article today Kate!
See you in March…
I’ve got puzzle pieces all over the board. That was the easy part. Now doing the connecting of the round parts to the holes. LOL! I’m counting on this fragrant cuppa rosemary tea to help enliven the senses and make my puzzle whole. 🙂
Twitter: fearofwriting
Catherine, hope your fragrant cuppa helped you put the puzzle together. 🙂
I’m fried. Gonna take a break. Not sure if I’ll try to continue later – it all depends on whether I can rejuvenate.
Yes! The act of making the tea and inhaling the fumes were comforting. When I sat back down it wasn’t very long before the piece I was working on all fell into place. And completely different than the way it started.
Altogether, even though I have only done 1429 words, it has been a productive day so far.
I’m going to take a break too and not sure if I will continue, but I would like to at least start on my next piece.
I hope your day was worth the being fried, Milli! And that you rejuvenate nicely!
🙂
Thank you so much for today. After struggling with that pesky high school scene I keep putting off, I decided to focus on another part of the story. I too have a puzzle so I decided to write about interaction between two main characters and ended with another 3000 words typed. What excites me most though is that the story took an unexpected turn (it’s a good thing)! It’s time to rest and my goal for tomorrow is another 3K.
Have a nice Saturday and happy typing all!
Now go light up those keys in a blaze! 😉
Congratulations on your 4,000 words Crystal!
Thanks Catherine! I hope you had a great writing day!
Twitter: fearofwriting
Crystal, pleased to hear you got an excited feeling from your story taking an unexpected turn. 🙂 I hope you’re having a creative Sunday in pursuit of that other 3K.
It’s been fun having you here. I’ll Tweet you when the March RSVP page goes up.
~ Milli
Well, this was supposed to be my first 10K day, but I’ve been in bed all day asleep with a cold! 🙁
I’m still going to try and get some progress before midnight, though. It’s about 6:30 pm here in Wyoming, so I’ve got time!
Twitter: fearofwriting
Hi Jenna,
Sorry to hear you’ve been sick. I’m amazed you still want to try to make progress. Good for you!
The “day shift” has finished but you might have a companion this evening. A writer named Bev who lives in Colorado. She likes to work and write at night so she always shows up in the evening and then goes till all hours.
I’ll be checking posts till I go to bed, so feel free to post your updates. I’ll be cheering for you.
~ Milli
P.S. Welcome to your first 10K Day!