ROW 80 ~ Third Check In...It's Like an Antibiotic, Right?

If you miss your goal one day, you make it up the next, right? I've been trying to get back on track this week. So far, so good. The only problem is that I am at a sticking point in my story, so it's hard to get enthused. I figure that the only thing I can do is write myself out of this slump. Here's hoping I'm batting a thousand for the next check in (is that good? I don't know baseball).

ROW80 Check In #2 ~ Or, the One Where I Fall Off a Bit

Well, perhaps I shouldn't have jumped the proverbial gun. I did a lot of writing for the ROW80 Second Check In, but I did not accomplish my goal every day. Want my laundry list of excuses?

1. I was sick (I was! And I also had the NyQuil hangover that goes along with trying to make yourself better).

2. I was seeing Ben Affleck! Come on, that gives me some points, right?

3. My bestie was in from Vegas. So, we did the brunching, shopping, tattooing thing (her, not me. Tattoos look extremely painful).

So, those are my excuses as to why I missed a day and a half on my goals. And you know what? None of them are really good or acceptable. Writers write. I apologise. I will be better this week. I promise! Onward and upward.

Overheard in LA and a Nerd Alert

You know those conversations that you always hear about but never actually hear for yourself? They're so funny that you think the person telling you about them must be making them up. Well, my friends, I assure you I am not making this up.

Overheard in Los Angeles (and, it must be noted, said in an extremely braggy tone):

"Well, I was talking to Naomi Watts, she comes into my Coffee Bean all the time, and she said that the script went through a ton of changes."

Maybe you had to be there, but this was hilarious. The overwhelming "Know It All" tone turned an innocuous sentence into something that struck me (and my companion) as beyond hilarious. Only in LA.

Speaking of things that only happen in LA, would you allow me a brief nerd moment? Thank you. Okay, here's my full confession. I love Ben Affleck. Love him. I've loved him since GOOD WILL HUNTING and I am nothing if not loyal. I held on through GIGLI and DAREDEVIL and I'm thrilled that he's getting some recognition as a director. There was a special screening of THE TOWN last night (have you seen it? See it, it's awesome, and it also has Jon Hamm) and my future husband was doing a Q & A after. My dear friend called me as soon as she heard about this event and we immediately bought tickets (it should be noted that my awesome friend is not a huge Affleck fan but she is, as previously stated, an awesome friend).

We got there early and got seats near the front. That's right. I was less than 20 feet from BEN. He looked at tad homeless, but still gorgy.

I'm not the type that goes gaga over celebs (it would make work difficult), but there's always that one that makes your hands shake a little. Who is it for you?

ROW 80 ~ Check In, the First

The first 5 days of A Round of Word in 80 Days is complete. 75 days left!

I'm proud to say that I've met my goal for each day, so far. I certainly hope I can keep up this up. One of my Not Quite Resolutions for 2011 is to finish the first draft of my WIP...and come up with a decent title. I'm terrible at titles.

I'm also terrible at blogging today. So sorry. I seem to have come down with a touch of la gripe. I assume this is from my boss coming to work with the plague. Oh, well. I'll be back on my feet by Sunday (hopefully).

A Round of Words in 80 Days, Parte Dos

One of the glories of A Round of Words in 80 Days is that it allows you to set your own goals. As I prefer to be my own boss, I think that this is pretty much awesome. When I posted yesterday, I did not have a word count yet but I think I've settled on...

650-1000 words a day.

It seems reasonable. It allows some flexibility and holds me accountable, which I need. So, there you have it. Now fly, dear readers, and have a wonderful holiday season. I'll catch you on the proverbial flipside. Here's to a happy, healthy, prosperous and productive 2011.

A Round of Words in 80 Days.

My good friend, and awesome author, Madison Leigh turned me on to a new type of writing challenge: A Round of Words in 80 Days. I've tried NaNo and that didn't work as I had planned. I fell behind, became hopelessly overwhelmed and kind of shut down. Not exactly stimulating to the creative process. A Round of Words in 80 Days proposes the perfect solution to this: you set your own word count and work on your WIP for 80 days, at your own pace with your own goals. Hey, I know you've got a life to deal with. I've got one, too. But the stories are inside, just waiting to come out. Don't they deserve a life, too?

The new round starts January 3rd. If you want to sign up, simply click the link at the top...or click right here: http://aroundofwordsin80days.wordpress.com

PS No, I haven't set my word count yet. I will ASAP!

Hash Tags and a Hilarious Line from Family Guy

Does anyone watch Family Guy? I know the humor isn't for everyone, but I really enjoy it. One of their running gags is that Brian, the snarky talking dog, is a failed writer. On

a recent episode he talks about giving up his dream after his first book is a terrible failure. Stewie, the psychopathic talking baby, responds with a classic line:

"You can't give up writing. It's the only thing giving your alcoholism any credibility."

Oh, Family Guy. Hilarious. Off color, sure, but my guess is that Ernest Hemmingway and Truman Capote would have laughed, too.

I don't Tweet. It's one of those things that I feel a little old for. A friend of mine swears that most Twitter members (Tweeters?) are folks in their twenties, but I don't know. I still feel like "You damn kids and your music. Get off my lawn."

However, I do love the "hash tag" thing that's happening on Twitter. I feel like it opens up tons of comedic possibilities. I want to start using it in daily life, like on Facebook or texting or instant messages or random emails. Really, think of the potential...

FACEBOOK STATUS:

Elisabeth Fitzgerald is avoiding work but spending quality time with TiVo. #ProcrastinationMeansYourCreditCardDebtWillNeverBePaid #RealLifeShouldBeLikeLawandOrder

TEXT MESSAGE:

323.555.0185: Dude, wat happnd 2 u lst nite? U left the club early. :(

310.555.6793: Met an awesome girl, went to her place. It wuz da bomb! #BadDecisions #CoyoteUgly #DoesThisLookLikeAWartToYou

INSTANT MESSAGE:

Friend 1: Hi!

Friend 2: I am away from my computer right now. #Lying #PretendingToHaveALife

EMAIL:

Dear Boss,

I will be late today. I have an emergency doctor's appointment but I hope it will go quickly.

Thanks,

Employee #PossibleJobInterview #TooMuchPartying

Yeah, I think we need to start hash tagging more. It can only lead to good things.

For example, I could tag this post #GoWorkOnYourBook #FamilyGuyReadsSouls. Or just #ThanksForSpendingTimeHere