ROW80 Goals Round 4
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It has been a sad two weeks. Nothing bad happened, don’t worry. But I didn’t write much at all. I really did use these two weeks between Round 3 and 4 to rest a bit. I had also hit a small road block near the end of last round and it threw me for a little loop. I have walked around it for now and I will have to come back and remove it during revisions.
So I’ve started down the long dirt road and I know that its the right road because its on the map and now I can pick up the pace to a light jog with the beginning of A Round of Words in 80 Days Round 4.
My goal last time was 50,000 words total over 80 days. I actually wrote about 45,000 words, plus I plotted 11 chapters and also wrote 3-4 blog posts per week. So in the end I technically reached my goal.
Now I’m trying to set my goals for this round and I was checking out other blogs and I noticed in the last days of Round 3 that I liked how lots of writers gave themselves multiple goals and projects to work on.
So I’ve decided that I will I will include two other goals in my list for Round 4 to give myself a little variety and also avoid feeling guilty if I don’t write 5,000 words per week towards my WIP.
So Round 4 goals:
- Write 50,000 words towards my WIP. (Yes, its the same as last time because I like this number and I hope with winter coming, I might get more writing time).
- Write 3 blog posts per week. (I did this last Round including my Sunday check in because Wednesday’s are booked for Writers’ Uni-Verse-City, but its nice to include it in the goals).
- Read at least one writing craft book, if not two. (I have purchased 4 craft books and its difficult to choose which one to read first. I’m leaning towards “Story Engineering” to help me through Round 4).
So like last time, I will set a fall back a goal. A safety goal so that if don’t manage to make the others, my main one being 50,000 words, then I will still have accomplished what I set out to do even if the numbers don’t reflect that.
My back-up goal is to write my way through Act II. I want to finish the big middle of my book and then I hope the ending is “all down hill” from there.
ROW80 Round 4 starts October 3rd and runs to December 22nd (sign up here). I think I’m gonna try to get most of my writing done before Christmas approaches.
See you at the #ROW80 Twitter Party on October 5th! Details here.
All great, measurable goals Nicole! I also drafted a blogging and reading goal as part of mine. As a first time ROWer, I hope the variety will give me balance. Good luck and see you around #ROW80.
Hi Barbara,
I”m thinking it will help to list a few options/goals to work on. Then there will be less guilt if I can make 2 goals out of 3. I just need to figure out how to blog and write in the same day. Usually its blog one day and write the other.
Hope to see you at the #ROW80 Twitter party on Wed!
Wonderful goals, Nicole! Don’t worry about taking a breather. You’ve done wonderful work. 🙂
You’re the best. Thanks Jolyse. 🙂
Just wanted to wish you loads of luck in achieving your goal. I look forward to reading your updates.
Thanks so much Ellie. Please feel free to stop by the Twitter Party on Oct. 5th. Your comments have been super supportive. 🙂
Great goals, Nicole. I’m sure you will achieve them all. Looking forward to Round 4 with you!
Thanks Elizabeth. Looking forward to Round 4 with you too.
Great goals Nicole. I’m pretty excited about round four myself. You did awesome in round three, so I know you’ll Rock The Row in this round too. Best of luck. ~clink~
Thanks Kerry. You will Rock The Row and NaNo!
I like doing the sums. Yours work out to 625 word per day (50 000 divided by 80).
Doable? For sure! Good luck.
Thanks for the math. That helps put it into better prospective for me. 🙂
Good luck on your goals for this round!
Thank you for the encouragement! Now I just have to get started…
Good luck with all your goals, Nicole! See you at the Twitter party!
Thanks Lauralynn. See you at the party!
I think it’s totally fine to take a break between rounds. Even writers need to rest. Good luck on your goals this round!
Thank YOU Ghenet. 🙂 Rest is good, I always say.
great goals and best of luck. I’m also juggling multiple projects this round.
Thanks Katy. Lets Rock the Row!
Great goals! So looking forward to getting my head back in the game (hopefully!).
Hope you have a great first week of round 4!
Yes, I must put my head back in the game too. It went on a little vacation.
Those sounds like some great goals! I especially like the one about reading some craft books; I love how RoW inspires a person to not only do the writing, but improve it as an art, as well! Best of luck! I’m really looking forward to getting this round started and getting the chance to cheer everyone on!
Your definately right about ROW80 inspiring me to work on the craft. I hope I can read 2 craft books, but I don’t rush through them so that I can absorb everything.
Variety does help, Nicole. You’ll always have something postive to report. I have a similar word count goal (75,000 words). I think setting a goal slightly high is a good thing since you have something more that ‘doable’ to strive for. Goals are about progress and who you become as you reach for the goal. The goal is not lost if you reach it after the deadline date; it will be just as rewarding. Good luck.
Wooooow Marcia 75,000 words is a LOT. I also think setting a higher goal is better because I will work harder to achieve it than if I set a goal that I know I will achieve.
Good luck with your goals. I look forward to getting to know you during round 4 🙂
Raelyn thanks for the comment. Looking forward to getting to know you too.
Hey Nicole =)
Good luck on your goals! We’ll keep you encouraged!
Thanks Juliana. Encouragement works wonders.
That’s a lot you’ve accomplished! Congratulations! Seems to me like you really deserved that break. Good luck with your goals this round!
Thanks Annalise. My only problem is taking too long of a break. Not good. Must have more motivation sometimes. Good luck to you too.
Excellent goals, Nicole. Looking forward to tackling another round with you!
Thanks Lena. You have some great goals too. See you at #row80.
Fantabulous goals Nicole and best of luck attaining all of them! They rock.
I’d love to hear about the craft books you buy and as you read them, what you think? I am reading Outlining Your Novel: Map Your Way to Success by K.M. Weiland and have purchased James Scott Bell’s Plot and Structure and Jack Bickham’s Scene & Structure. On the hunt for some of the best craft books. 🙂
Good luck and keep us posted!!!
Hi Natalie.
I just finished James Scott Bell’s Plot and Structure. Book review is coming soon (I hope).
I also have a running list of to-read craft book in a blog post here: http://universecityblog.wordpress.com/2011/09/21/books-on-the-craft-of-writing-to-read-list/
Next I will be reading Story Engineering by Larry Brooks and I hope to finish it and review it before the end of Round 4. Then I plan to read On Writing by Stephen King starting near the end of November.
50,000 words does look like a great number. Good luck!