ROW80

June 17 Round 2 Progress and Wrap-up

Elizabeth Anne Mitchell

Happy Father’s Day to all the fathers out there, and to my own father, even though he is allergic to computers and will never see it.


I continued with Jeff Goins’ 15-day challenge, outlined here, which has some seriously scary steps.  I reposted a couple of pieces that many of you had critiqued, but by putting them on my main blog and “publicizing” them, l left myself open to a lot more critique.  Eep–that was very scary!


I’m still getting up early to write, even though a lot of the writing is more of a data dump, just getting ideas and scenarios down before I forget them.  I want to move to the next step, of using the time to finish something–that was one of the steps in the 15-day challenge.


One resource that I have found very helpful, despite its seemingly narrow focus is Writing Your Journal Article in 12 weeks, by Wendy Laura Belcher. A “write in as you go” workbook for the academic writer having difficulty, Belcher’s book has given me a lot on insight into my fiction writing as well as my writing for the day job.  She points out that talking about writing is almost taboo for academic writers: “One of the reasons that academics do not talk about writing is that it involves talking about feelings.  Academics tend to be more comfortable with the rational than the emotional.“ Belcher, 2.


I remember all too well feeling frustrated in my graduate studies when everyone postured about writing being cerebral. Writing has never been cerebral for me, not even once I had wrung all the emotions and senses out of my academic prose.  Although I would not be able to use Belcher’s book as fully in its Kindle incarnation, I would suggest downloading a sample if it sounds at all interesting to you.


What I have learned: I have to learn more courage.


I have to learn more self-confidence.  


I need to take a more rounded approach to the goals for Round 3–oh, I didn’t see that pun coming!  I need to put exercise back into the mix, more reading and other down time with friends and family.  


To prove that I can see myself in a positive light, I am a good cheerleader and supporter. Therefore, I will be a ROW80 sponsor for Round 3, and will see you around the interwebs.


Shout-outs: I want to alert you to several of the people who are now following my blog. Check them out if you don’t already know them. 


Ellie Ann at http://ellieannsoderstrom.com


Kathy at http://towriteistowrite.wordpress.com


Yatin at http://yatinpatel.wordpress.com


Dale at http://dalebridges.wordpress.com


Janice at http://janiceheckwrites.wordpress.com


Lisa at http://writewhatyouknowdotorg.wordpress.com


Christy at http://christyfarmer.wordpress.com


Shah at http://shahwharton.com


Kate at http://kateshrewsday.wordpress.com


Templar Forum at http://thetemplarknight.com


Jess at  http://jesswitkins.wordpress.com

And as always, please cheer on the rest of the ROWers here as Round 2 ends on June 22. Round 3 begins on July 2nd–take a look here to see if you are interested in joining.

 

Published by Elizabeth Anne Mitchell

I am the youngest of four children, raised in the old-fashioned Irish-American way. I suspect my mother encouraged me to write from an early age to keep me out of her hair, although she may have regretted the decision when my teachers began to call about the controversial stories I was writing. Thus I began my career of butting heads with the good sisters at my Catholic elementary school, and ended it by leaving high school for college with no diploma. I wear my high-school dropout badge rebelliously and proudly. In college, I became fascinated with the Middle Ages, which was described as a “starry night” by one of my professors. So began a trek through languages and legends that informs my narrative non-fiction and historical fiction, as well as my blogs. I love feedback and enjoy discussing ideas. I have an accountability blog for the Round of Words in Eighty Days entitled Leavekeeping; I write a blog on literary history, intellectual history, and the history of words entitled Lapidary Prose. I'm on Twitter and Facebook; my email is lapidaryprose@gmail.com.

8 thoughts on “June 17 Round 2 Progress and Wrap-up”

  1. Jeff Goins’ 15-day challenge gives some good pointers, even if I don’t agree with every part of his challenge. It seems that you’ve been doing well with your writing this week, keep it up! Have a great week and happy writing…

    1. Thanks for dropping by, EM. Whatever I may think of Jeff Goins’ specific points, he has made me think about why I write and why I have hidden for so long.

      I will certainly try to finish this last week of ROW80 with a flourish! Have a lovely week!

  2. You have changed so much, Elizabeth. You seem to be more and more self-confident every time you post. Good luck to you and all your goals, and I know you’ll learn to have more and more courage and self-confidence the more you practice it. And we’re here to cheer you on!

    1. Aw, Lauralynn, you’re making me tear up here! I do feel as though I am turning the corner here. I know that I wouldn’t be as far as I am without all of you helping me! Have a wonderful week, and a productive break between Rounds.

  3. growth – ah now theres a lovely word – you have done so well in that aspect -look foward to next round- keep smiling

    1. Alberta, between you and Lauralynn, I’ll be crying here! Thank you for all the support for my growth. I know I wouldn’t be where I am without all of you. I’m looking forward to the next round. ENjoy this last week and the break.

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