Image Copyright © Tracy Mangold aka @InkyTwig. Thanks, Tracy!
WELCOME TO ALL those plucky writers who are participating this week!
This is the place to post your check-ins for Wednesday, Sept 26th and/or Saturday, Sept 29th.
To learn more about this event, mouse over 10K Days in the blog menu above.
If you’re participating from overseas, feel free to start according to your own time zone. This check-in page is posted the evening before the event so you can. 🙂
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?
TIP: If you don’t see your comment right away after posting, try refreshing your screen.
1. You can mention your word count if you want to. If you’d rather not, please 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.
DON’T FORGET TO log out of forums, Facebook, Twitter, email, etc.
Go gettum, Tigers! – Milli
Twitter: dream_mancer
Words! I can has them!
2,716 to be exact. I’m on a roll with three stories I’m working on and I’m having to make myself stop, only because I don’t want to be dead at work tomorrow. It feels good to have to temporarily block the words from pouring out instead of glaring at the blinking cursor that mocks me.
As usual, it’ll be quite a while before I’m back, so good luck to all you people who brave the day before noon!
-Laura
Twitter: fearofwriting
“It feels good to have to temporarily block the words from pouring out instead of glaring at the blinking cursor that mocks me.”
So glad you got to feel that! 🙂
I made it! On Wednesday, and will be here on Saturday as well! *all excited*
Not for the first time, but for the first time with a clear conscience, I don’t have the 10K as a goal for today.
Last week especially, I discovered that it works best for me in general if I am doing something else that’s also creative. For the past seven days I’ve crafted so many lovely things just for myself.
AND all the while when I first sat down to write I felt like I didn’t want to, but ended up answering tons of e-mails, and writing/finishing so many blog posts. I have some unfinished as well, but I the ones I did finish are already scheduled to be published, and I am well into October with them. 🙂
So my plan for today (and Saturday) is working on those unfinished blog posts, writing a few travel articles and an assignment that is waay overdue.
Happy writing everyone, see you all later 🙂
Twitter: fearofwriting
Love the sound of all that crafting you’ve been doing, and how it feeds your other creativity. And how exciting that you got to be here on Wednesday! And that you get to do both 10K days this month! Really happy for you, Estrella. I know how much it must mean to you right now to be healing yourself with some creativity. xo
I’m really excited about it, too. I haven’t been able to properly attend (definitely not both days), since June!
Looking forward to tomorrow 🙂
And I have just posted my assignment and sent it in by e-mail as well so my mentor can read it 🙂 Boy it feel great to have it off my chest, it’s been a long time coming.
Now on to finishing a blog post that I have a few things to add to, and then do some travel writing.
PS: just for fun —
Had the BEST request for a doodle yesterday while babysitting: “Estrella, will you draw me a library?” Warmed my little bibliophile heart!
Twitter: cjtreggett
Oh, Estrella, I’m a big fan of doodling! Glad you had creative fun with your young friend yesterday 😀 Wow, sounds like you’ve been quite prolific already. Kudos 🙂
Thanks, Carole!
It was really fun, that’s for sure. And pretty, up until she deleted it from the drawing board to doodle something else 🙂
It is now nearly 5pm over here and things are going really well. I took breaks for lunch and to do some chores, then finished a few blog posts that I started last week.
Now I’m in the middle of writing a travel article and am having fun with editing photos I’ll include while describing things step by step. Not having the word count on my mind today, I can afford to do the two at the same time 😉
Twitter: fearofwriting
Glad you had fun doing your travel article. Thanks for making Milliver’s Travels (and me, Milliver :D) the lucky recipient of that bit o’ work. xo
I did, have another travel article lined up for tomorrow. They’re almost always so much fun to write!
Twitter: fearofwriting
Needed some extra sleep so I’m getting a late start. Wow, the updates look juicy so far!!
Going to stumble to the kitchen for some coffee and then get started with my journaling.
Twitter: cjtreggett
Hi Everyone,
I didn’t have the greatest sleep last night either, but I’ve been up for a bit and have already done some journalling (550 words). For the first time in a while, I remembered a dream I had, enjoying exploring that this morning.
Taking a short break to have a healthy brekkie this time: brown rice, fresh raspberries, few walnuts and a splash of milk heated up in microwave. Better than oatmeal, I swear!
Going to continue with a bit more journalling, then dive into my ebook project and a few other writing pieces on my to do list today.
Happy writing adventures, all! Hugs.
Oh, remembering a dream is nearly always fun. Hope you have a lot of fun with the e-book and other projects as well 🙂
Twitter: lorigg
Didn’t sleep well so it was a struggle to get moving this morning. The chilly am run with friends helped get the blood moving and a journaling session has got the brain going. Three pages (about 750 words) done and time for a break.
Twitter: fearofwriting
Three pages of journaling so far but I don’t feel warmed up yet. I’m going to look for some music to help set the pace. I don’t want a fast pace today; just something that feels like I’m getting out of my own mental ruts.
Twitter: lorigg
good luck finding your groove today
Twitter: fearofwriting
Thanks, Lori! I did find my groove, in an unexpected way. 🙂
And now it’s past 7pm over at this end of the world.
I finished one of the travel articles I wanted to write this week, and already sent it along before starting to over-edit 😉
Now I’ll finish another short blog post and then call it a day for the creative writing. I’ll start answering e-mails and see about commenting on blogs that I’ve been neglecting.
Hope you all get into the hang of it, you’re on the right track it seems 🙂
Twitter: lorigg
Got a speech written that needed to be done. Thinking about where my characters are going next in my fiction. Word count is still low in the neighborhood of 1500 but that is better than last month.
Twitter: fearofwriting
Congrats on getting that speech written. It must have felt good to get that done. Hope your fiction characters took you where you wanted to go. Your check-in further down the page says you made it to 3000 words. Whoo hoo!
I’m late, I know. Very late, actually. I ended up not having a story I want to write after all. I have a roleplay story I need to start, and I’ll probably work on that for a bit. Otherwise, I’ve got nothing. :/
So I’ve been weeding out and straightening up all morning. Haven’t even taken a shower yet.
You know what? I’m going to plan a specific story for next month’s 10K Day. I’ve got a month to do this. I can do it! 😉
Good luck everyone!
~L
Twitter: fearofwriting
Hi Lois!
If you need a story idea you could look in the index of Fear of Writing for a story prompt (the index points to 112 prompts).
There are also some writing prompts available here on the blog. Here’s one you might like:
Sparkling Beasts and Glimmering Gods
http://www.10kdayforwriters.com/2009/06/new-writing-prompt-sparkling-beasts-glimmering-gods
Hope you have some fun today. 😀
Thanks, Milli.
Well, to be honest, I’ve got ideas. I think I’m just–really, really stressed out right now, and because of that, nothing interests me. I think I need a vacation! 😛
~L
Twitter: fearofwriting
I hear you about needing a vacation. And that feeling of not being interested in the usual things because of needing to feel rejuvenated first. How did your 10K Day end up? Did you get anywhere with your plans?
I wound up writing nothing! 😛
On the bright side, I figured out the culprit. I drank an energy shot on Wednesday morning (did the same thing on Tuesday morning), and it messed with my mood, made me anxious and edgy, and it was just a bad day all around. Now that I know that’s what caused it, you can bet I’ll stay as far away from those as I can!
That said, I plan to be here next month for 10K Day. Maybe I’ll write a Halloween story! 🙂
~L
Twitter: lorigg
plugging along I think I am at about 3000 words now and starting to wonder what to write next. That means it is break time. Not sure how I’ll use some of the writing. Maybe some blog posts. Maybe a speech. Also have an idea to research for more writing later.
Twitter: cjtreggett
Well, I made it to 3,233 words today. Not too shabby considering I was so foggy-brained all day LOL. Off to take a walk before it gets dark and then prepare supper. Take care everyone.
Twitter: fearofwriting
3,233 words definitely ain’t too shabby! 🙂 Especially after a not-so-good night’s sleep. Hope your journaling, ebook project and miscellaneous other writing was enjoyable for you. xo
Twitter: dream_mancer
Hi all!
Only got 807 words done at work today, which is worse than normal but I had a long and busy day. Home now and I’ve got three hours and I can totally hit 10K…if I don’t get distracted. I’m settled in and chugging right along, though, so here come more words!
Congrats for all the words today!
-Laura
Twitter: dream_mancer
Well, I got distracted. Ended up around 4,500, but compared to how I normally do, that’s still pretty good! I’ll try to add to that on Saturday!
-Laura
Twitter: fearofwriting
Hey Laura,
Congrats on your 4500 words. 🙂 I hope you rewarded yourself.
See you back at the writing ranch on Saturday.
Twitter: fearofwriting
***** GOOD MORNING, LOVELY SATURDAY PEOPLE ******
Not being a morning person I won’t be here to greet you when you first arrive. And some of you (looking at Estrella and Laura) are in other time zones or have unusual sleep patterns so you’ll be here super-early my time. Soooo I just wanted to say Hello and “Happy Writing!” and I will see you all when I wake up. 🙂
~ Milli
Twitter: dream_mancer
“Unusual sleep patterns” *giggles*
As usual, up and starting at midnight. Well, a little later than midnight, but it’s Saturday. So that means I’m not waking up before noon.
Here we go!
*laughing* This was a fun greet, Milli, thank you!
But you’ve nailed it with the “unusual sleep patterns” (I’m actually trying to work on that; making myself go to bed earlier so I can wake up earlier. It’s working well enough for now.)
I got up at 9am with a neck and headache, so I’m having a little later start (it’s 11:30am by now). However, I won’t get stuck on that fact, as I don’t have a definite word count for today either.
My goal is to finish blog posts and schedule the rest of October, mixing it up with a travel article and a description of myself and my art for a handmade magazine they’re soon publishing here in Kolozsvar. The latter I need to write in three languages, it’ll be nice to switch to them so the blog post writing won’t get monotonous.
Happy writing everyone, see you all later 🙂
Twitter: fearofwriting
Glad you both liked that “unusual sleep patterns” dry wording that I used to describe us. Since I’m just getting here now (at almost noon)–having slept till eleven to get my proper rest–I felt I was well qualified to peg us. 😀
It’s been a few hours since, and I’m so glad I decided to start with that info/introduction about myself as an artisan — it took longer than anticipated. Good to have it out of the way!
I’m taking a break for lunch and then on to the blog posts and travel article. 🙂
Twitter: fearofwriting
Estrella, being published in a handmade magazine sounds WONDERFUL. And so YOU.
When it comes out, I’d love to get a copy if that’s possible. I could send you money (enough for postage too) by PayPal or whatever way works for you. I simply *must* see you and your art in that magazine.
Writing that artisan bio about yourself first sounds like a great start to your writing day. Hope your blog posts and travel articles have been flowing for you since lunch. xo
Well, I still need to get approved. Only 200 will be featured, and the rest will appear by name and website only in form of a list. But here’s hoping I make the cut! *fingers crossed*
If not, I at least have a new introduction 🙂
I am only half way through the travel article sadly, and have to leave the house now… I have one heck of an opening paragraph though, so I’ll let that make up for the lack of an ending.
The website seems to be temporarily down from where I need to refresh my memory of the schedules and see the map, so it’s okay. Will finish it on Monday and send it to you by Monday night 🙂
Have an amazing 10K Day, everyone, and a lovely weekend!
Twitter: fearofwriting
I hope you make it into the final 200!!!!
I look forward to your next travel article, the one with the stunning opening paragraph. 😀 I hope to publish your road trip article this coming week – but I’ll let you know when I have a pub date for you 🙂
Thank you, Milli!
Can’t wait for that pub date; plus I just sent in my new article for MT a few minutes ago.
Any time is good, no worries, but I am partial to Fridays this month if that works for you, too 🙂
Twitter: fearofwriting
I haven’t had my coffee yet (gee, I hope I haven’t been saying that z my first check-in for every 10K Day–it sounds SO familiar) so I’m still a bit groggy. But I’m really looking forward to my writing today.
I’ll be writing feedback for a Fear of Writing Online Course student, some blog posts and a CD review. But starting, as usual, with some delicious journaling. The journaling goes with coffee time, and I hate to miss either or my day just doesn’t start right.
Off to make a cappuccino with freshly-ground beans. 🙂
Twitter: dream_mancer
Just woke up and managed to have a really good sleep, so I’m going to check my emails, perhaps get a latte, and settle in for some writing. Only got about 600 words last night in before I needed to do some research, but with that out of the way, I think I’ll be good.
Not sure if I can hit 10K, because I have errands to run, but I’ll definitely make a dent. Whoo!
-Laura
Twitter: fearofwriting
Laura, glad you got to have good sleeps! For me, that makes all the difference to how my 10K Day goes.
I don’t have a plan myself to try to hit 10K today (I’ve been working way too hard lately and don’t want to put more strain on my nervous system) . . . but I do have a huge and juicy list for things I’d love to write today, given the energy.
Looks like our other partner-in-crime, Estrella, is finished for the day (she’s on European time) but I’ll be here all day. So keep those check-ins rolling in. I love to hear from you! 🙂
Twitter: dream_mancer
Coffee is acquired. Journal entries first, then continuing on with the short story. I tried to go outside and write, because this is perfect writing weather for me (cool, overcast) but the large oak tree that provides shade to our back deck is dropping acorns like they’re going out of style, so I retreated indoors. Had to clean the room a bit so my brain could focus.
Will check in soon! Good luck to all!
-Laura
Twitter: fearofwriting
Hahaha! Can’t write outside because of attacking acorn tree. That’s one I’ve never heard before. 😀
We’ve got sunshine here (which is a bonus because the weather forecast said cloudy all day) but I’m going to enjoy it from my window while I write at my desk. That’s so I can stay in my jammies as long as I want today.
Twitter: dream_mancer
Attack of the Acorns! It sounds like a 60’s horror movie! At one point, I looked up at the tree and said, “Seriously?!”, which made me look insane to my dad who had come around the side of the house. Whoops?
I’m also looking out my window at the beautiful landscape in my pajamas. I’ll get dressed for an outing, which is a stress-relief outing YAY, but then as soon as I get home, I’m getting back in my pajamas. Pajama days are the best.
Twitter: fearofwriting
LOL!!! I totally thought it sounded like a movie script, on par with The Birds.
That’s funny about your dad coming around the corner just as you said that out loud. My husband is so used to me talking to myself he rarely comments any more. I feel I’ve earned the right to be a crazy old lady who has rich and rewarding conversations with herself out loud. 😀
I might be doing a little outing myself later, for roughly the same reasons (though I feel very happy today, not at all stressed – yay! bonus for the day) and when I put a fresh pair of jammies on afterwards I will think of you. 😀
Twitter: fearofwriting
Just finished a lovely long journaling session of 11 pages (amounts to roughly 1540 words) and now it’s time for a break and a super-late breakfast.
(Had a chocolate-covered biscotti with my cappuccino and that staved off the hunger long enough to do the journaling I wanted to do to kick off my day of writing.)
I’m just getting started, even though it’s almost 11:30 and the morning is almost gone…I’m moving slowly today. It’s helped me though, reading through previous chapters of my manuscript. I have some ideas for where I want to go with my story.
Twitter: fearofwriting
Hi Andrea! Glad you could make it.
A few of us got late starts (I didn’t start until noon) but I reckon we can still have a good day of writing regardless.
Pleased to hear you’ve got a good way to warm up (reading your manuscript) and I wish you a rewarding writing time, with or without word count. Looking forward to your updates.
~ Milli
Twitter: dream_mancer
Working on journal entries. So far, I’m 2,805 words in, which brings my total to 3400 for the day. I still have lots more to journal, but I think I’m going to take a lunch break…at 3:30 in the afternoon, which is typical for me. Then, probably stress-relief, then back for more journaling!
-Laura
Twitter: fearofwriting
Just whipped out 1,136 of business/life planning type stuff (but it did not feel dry or boring like those words imply – it felt great!).
Added to my journaled words from earlier I’m at 2,676 and really enjoying my day.
Twitter: dream_mancer
Another journal entry complete! Now my words are at 6631. I’m debating on either doing another journal entry or moving on to my short story. But first, making dinner. I love cooking. I get most of my best ideas while either cooking or driving!
Hope everyone is having an awesome Saturday!
-Laura
Twitter: fearofwriting
Yay for the journaling! Hope you had fun cooking and felt lots of ideas flowing while you cooked.
Twitter: fearofwriting
Just finished a review for a CD (plus some related thoughts I wrote up first to help me gain clarity) and that was for 1,096 words. So I’m currently at 3,772. And I’ll take a break now. Not sure I’m quite hungry enough for dinner yet.
Twitter: fearofwriting
Whoops! Instead of going on my break, I accidentally wrote another 270 words. 😀 But, goody! I’ve broken 4K for a total of 4,042.
Twitter: dream_mancer
I love how you accidentally wrote!
And yay for breaking 4K!
Twitter: dream_mancer
I’m back from dinner and although I didn’t come up with more journaling ideas, I think I might stick to my short story. Playing with characters is always fun.
Twitter: fearofwriting
Having fun playing! Sounds good.
Twitter: dream_mancer
Finished a scene for a collective writing project and started a whole new story. Total word count is at 8791. I can pretty much guarantee I’ll hit 10K by the end of the night.
It’s crazy how I went into today expecting not to hit 10K, not even aiming for it, more aiming to get words, when it’s the closest I’ve come in a long while.
-Laura
Twitter: fearofwriting
Whoo hoo! That’s fantastic!!
What a bonus that you didn’t have your sights set on 10,000 words but just by enjoying your day you’ll end up there anyway. 😀
Twitter: dream_mancer
And that’s it! 10,034.
It’s been great and awesome and much love to everyone! Can’t wait until next month! It’ll be much needed NaNo prep!
-Laura
Twitter: fearofwriting
Yahooey on the 10,034!!!!
So glad you had an awesome day. See you next month, Laura. 🙂
Congrats Laura (and everyone else, as well) on the great word count! Well done 🙂