If you’ve been following this blog for the last few weeks, you know I’ve been struggling with my mojo lately. Well, I’m pleased to announce that the word drought has ended!
This weekend was the Diamond State Romance Authors annual writing retreat in Hot Springs. I was hoping the change of scenery, gathering of like-minded friends, and structured writing time away from the distractions of home would help pull me from this slump, and it did!
I set a goal of trying to write 5000 words per day and 10000 words total. Here’s my play by play of how the weekend unfolded.
Friday:
I was up and ready early, so I decided that I needed to use the time before I left productively, so I sat down in the recliner and didn’t move until I finished chapter four.
Pre-retreat word count – 2214
We stayed at the Blue House on Lake Hamilton again
I staked out the same spot as last year
And tried not to spend too much time staring out at the view
We called Papa John’s to deliver and wrote into the night, stopping only when it was time for refreshment
Word count before retiring to the hot tub – 2840
Total Friday: 5054
Saturday we were up and at it early. The forecast called for warm temps and sunny skies, so this served as my motivation
I managed to put up about 3000 words before this happened
Then I wrote some more before we decided it was time to head for Mi Pueblito (aka: the gas station Mexican place) for fortification
Word count before enchiladas and cheese dip: 4575
Word count while in food coma: 688
Total Saturday word count: 5263
We knew we had to be out by noon on Sunday. We also knew many of us were close to our previously state goals, or close to a new one. Me? I realized I could make it to the the approximate halfway mark in my book if I could manage just a couple thousand more words. Fueled by the last few cookies in the Snoopy tin, I made it!
Sunday word count at retreat: 2014
Total weekend word count: 12331!
So yeah, I’m home now and totally stoked to have made so much progress on the first draft of LOVE AND ROCKETS. I’ll keep plugging away at it, a little bit during the week and a little more on weekends and soon the bones of the book will be there.
Happy Monday, everyone. I hope this is the most mayhem you’ll be forced to endure this week!
Yay! Yay! Yay! So happy for you, my friend! I think that retreat was exactly what you needed. Now that a new month is nearly upon us, I’ve decided to set some new goals for myself. I’m committed to finishing my current WIP by the end of October (or sooner), and my reward will be all the candy in the world! 😀 Happy Monday!!
All the candy in the world??? I’m in!
The weekend sounds like it went very well. I’m glad you met and surpassed your goal and had fun too.
It really was a good weekend. We worked hard and played…not-so-hard, but just enough!
Hee, luckily you have so much more fortitude than I do! I would have been all about the view! (And the cookies.) Good job on crushing that goal!
Thanks, Carol, but let’s not forget that there were 10 other writers there, so the peer pressure was on!
So glad you had a great weekend and I love the name Love and Rockets!
All the 80s girls do, Kat! Mwah!