The Early Bird and all that Jazz

It's check-in day for JuNoWriMo.  And I have to say I've had a great week keeping up with the challenge.  I wasn't sure at first, but now that I'm in up to my chin, I'm okay with the deep end--even with all the craziness of life making waves.

So, how did I stay on track?

I got up earlier every day (as in 4:45 a.m. oh-my-God it's early!).  And surprise, surprise. . .it worked.  Why?  Well, I discovered combining the following makes for a pretty good receipe.

One. . .a still, quiet house.
Two. . .no pitter-pattering of little feet.
Three. . .a dog who lies under my desk and keeps my feet warm (even though he gives me a dirty look when the alarm goes off.  Now, if that isn't true love, nothing is).
Four. . .man, there just isn't anything else to do that freakin' early, so might as well stick with the program.
And five?. . .my muse is a morning person.  Who knew, right?

Okay, enough with the blah-blah-blahing.  Let's get down to it.

My goal is 1000 words a day.  Every day.  And I came in at. . .drum roll, please. . .

8047 words.  Hoorah!  Gold star for me (and some celebratory chocolate. . .naturally).

So, how was your week?  Did you get what you wanted accomplished?

Scared Witless

Umm. . .so, I did something yesterday.  Something either really crazy-stupid or mind-spliting awesome.  I can't decide which, because. . .it scares the crap out of me.

I committed to doing Shallee McArthur's JuNoWriMo (a.ka. June Novel Writing Month. . .check it out at Shallee's blog) challenge for the next month.  Okay, what's the big deal, you ask?  After all, it's good to have goals, right?  Right.  Totally on board there.  Because, hey, I always set goals. . .weekly, monthly, and all that good stuff.  So, my problem here?  I NEVER tell anybody what my goals are, because. . .gulp. . .they might actually hold me to them.

Just thinking about it makes me want to run like a total commitment-phobe.  Which is precisely why I did it.  I don't like being scared, so I've got my toes curled around the edge of the dock and I'm ready to dive in. . .head first.  Man, I hope there aren't any rocks beneath the surface.

So, my goal for the month (taking a big breath here. . give me a minute while I crack some chocolate to kill the panic) is:

1000 words a day.  Minimum.  I want my WIP finished before the end of the month when I head for NYC and the RWA's national conference.

All right.  I said it out loud.  Now, I'm stuck with it, because I know my fellow writers and JuNoWriMo pals will come after me with pitch forks (okay, not really. . .but the image serves as a great motivator) if I don't keep up my end of the bargain.  Thanks guys.  Looking forward to cheering you on this month!

Thank You Never Gets Old

So, I got thanked today by E.J.--a cool guy with a great blog called The Open Vein that I check out regularly.  Which, of course, got me thinking.

Do I say thank you enough?  

I like to think I'm polite, appreciative person.  After all, I always thank people who help me.  Clerks in grocery stores.  Strangers who hold doors open or the elevator when I'm scrambling to get on board before the darn doors close.  The guy making me a latte behind the coffee counter. . .the chocolate Gods for mixing up the goody-good-goodness of peanut M&Ms.

You know the drill.  But, those aren't the 'thank yous' I'm talking about.

The ones I mean are more heart felt. . .and belong to those we care about and love.  The people who stick with us through thick and thin, never mind the circumstance.  But, those are the people who slip through the cracks, aren't they?  We see or talk to them all the time.  Each day blends into the next, and the what do you know?  We forget how much they mean to us because they're always just THERE.  The constant in our lives that we take for granted.

I mean, really.  How often do I say thank you for that?  For the privilege of having them in my life?

Not very often (here's where I hang my head).

So, in honor of E.J. and his awesome initiative, I'm off on a 'thank you' spree.  And I'm gonna nail all my friends and family to my thank you board.  Let them know how much I value and appreciate them.  How much they make me laugh, cheer me up, keep me even and support me just by being who they are. . .which is just plain fabulous.

Oh, before I forget.  Thank You too. . .for stopping by.

Have a great weekend all.