Archive for the ‘ Group Writing Project ’ Category

111 Days of Fun

My First Two Blogging Challenges of 2011

I have accepted a few blogging challenges, two so far. The challenges I chose call on me to stretch myself out of my comfort zone—far out of my comfort zone. They are both blogging challenges that compel me to write more regularly, at least twice a week.

My reason in choosing these is to get motivated to post more than I ordinarily do, and more consistently over 16 weeks. More than that, I chose to challenge myself for two of my blogs, (now three). I’m curious to know how long I can sustain this pace, which is why I’ve taken to these challenges so readily. Besides, I want to make these changes in my routine permanent. This is a good starter.

Challenge 1

The shorter challenge is for my work blog, The Word ‘Mage Blog, where I took up with a challenge that started at the beginning of the month. It is for 25 posts to be written through the end of the month. I won’t meet that challenge necessarily but I will keep going with it.

Challenge 2

The longer challenge is for this blog. I only have to post two entries weekly. However, this challenge started, yesterday, 1.11.11 and continues for 111 days. Details are on Writing Spirit Blog.

To participate as a group, @WritingSpirit has set up a Twitter hash mark group, #SHINEonline, where we can tweet our participating posts. I already started my fun times here. I hope you’ll join in the relaxed fun.

I was originally going to stick with the two blogs that I started with. Since then, I’ve decided to extend this second challenge to my other blogs so that I can continue with frequent posting. I’m going to try to keep it to a minimum of 2 each for the balance of the 111 days.

This post is part of my #SHINEonline challenge commitment for 2 posts weekly; 2 of 2 for this week.

Reference posts

The Word ‘Mage Blog
Writing Spirit Blog

The RWP Anthology is Live

The moment I’ve been waiting for has come—actually it came last week. I’m just overly distracted with many things on my to-do lists. Of course, my distraction doesn’t diminish my excitement over being included in the anthology. It’s a delight to be included in this publication, as much as it is a pleasure to read it.

The Read Write Poem NaPoWriMo Anthology is live and ready for you to enjoy. You can read it at issuu.com, leave comments, and you can even download the book.

Find the Book

  • Click the link to read it at issuu
  • Or copy and paste it from here: http://issuu.com/readwritepoem/docs/read_write_poem_napowrimo_anthology

Read and enjoy!

One Chapbook Submission: SENT

Down to the Wire

At 17:26 CST, I emailed my chapbook submission to Robert Lee Brewer for the 2009 November PAD Chapbook Challenge. It culminated the month-long fits and starts through this morning, to edit and revise, to make better the stuff I’d posted.

I knew what I was in for when I took this on: I had to get a handle on my doubt demons and let them know this was going to happen. That’s my usual block but I really wanted this. I had to get around my family. I don’t really spell it out for them, just try to avoid them when I need to. And, my other one is the doubt about knowing what I am doing.
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November Activity Results

I finished the month only on a partially successful note. Both ventures were a great deal of fun, and brought me some valuable insights. I even learned from trying to do them in the same month. One thing I took from November’s activities is that they are do–able in the same month.

NaNoWriMo: My Incomplete Success

First the bad news: My novel remains unfinished. I didn’t meet my goal of 50,000 words by November 30. And I’m alright with that. In fact, I’ll be fine with it but not yet—hat’s coming.

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What’s Up for November 2009

I was all set to tell you about my new adventure when something happened! While surfing and tweeting, I came across some great tweets from someone I just started following, @inkyelbows. And I found a new adventure.

What I was going to tell you before my distraction was that I’m going to try NaNoWriMo again this year. Last year I signed up and didn’t get much further than that. Last year, I signed up on November 1, and fell apart shortly thereafter.

This year I gave myself a little more warning, little more time for self-talk, tools and ideas. Time to play around with the endeavor and sort of slide into next month like it was any other November.

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Lessons from a Mountaintop Experience

Death in the Family

My grandmother died March 30, 2003. It was painful and breathtaking. And then…

Maybe ten days later, my father was rushed to the ER. Blood clots were killing him. By the time I got to the hospital, dad’s heart had stopped and he’d been resuscitated twice.

The doctor working with him asked if we wanted to sign DNR papers. I didn’t want that and I was certain my mom didn’t, but she was so distraught she couldn’t make the decision.

My dad died twice more and was revived without having to crack his chest, before my mom made her decision. In fact, she never made the decision.

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