Daily Check-in 6/17/08 and 6/18/08

Both yesterday and today I've been "carding" my story—writing each possible scene and plot detail on a 3"x5" notecard, in order to play with the organization and flow of the plot. It also helps you identify gaps in your story, which I did. But that's a good thing because finding creative ways to fill those gaps ends up making the story more interesting.

Multi-day Check-in 6/13/08-6/16/08

It's been a busy weekend, so I'm playing catch-up with my blog reports.

6/13/08: I wrote before work on Friday, but because we went to see a movie (the new Indiana Jones; I liked it, but Scott wasn't impressed) after work I didn't get to post a report.

6/14/08 and 6/15/08: Although I didn't do any actual writing over the weekend, I did do some writing-related reading both days. Didn't have the opportunity to post a report either day because of a spike in our usually tame social schedule—we went to a BBQ Saturday night and the Tony Awards broadcast last night.

6/16/08: Got back to my writing routine this morning—writing for my hour—then did some more writing-related reading during lunch.

Daily Check-in 6/12/08

Did you think I forgot to report in today? No way!

Wrote before work, then did some more WIP-related reading during lunch.

BTW, I notice the emails of my blog posts are going out really late. The email of yesterday's post didn't arrive in my inbox until almost 24 hours after it appeared on the blog. Blogger (my blog host) allows me to specify up to 10 address to receive email about each blog post, and since my blog's audience is very limited that might be a better alternative to the email service I'm using now. Let me know what you think.

Daily Check-in 6/11/08

Took the el all the way to work today (instead of driving part of the way and taking the el the rest), so I was able to do some WIP-related reading during my commute. Then wrote for an hour before work, and read more at lunch.

Daily Check-in 6/10/08

Hey, what happened to 6/8/08 and 6/9/08?!

I had a colonoscopy yesterday (6/9; the doctor found two tiny polyps—both were completely benign). To prepare for the procedure I couldn't have anything but clear liquids after 11:00 AM Sunday (6/8)... and that's a very long time for me to go without food! The hungrier I got the crankier I got (ask Scott), and I found it difficult to concentrate on anything requiring higher thought—like writing or reading. So, no activity to report for 6/8. After the procedure I was pretty zoned out by the anesthesia. Scott drove me home, we got me some McDonald's breakfast on the way, and I ate my first solid food in over 24 hours. Of course, I don't remember the trip home or eating the food. But then I fell sound asleep on the couch for over four hours. So, no activity to report for 6/9 either.

I'm happy to report I resumed my writing-before-work routine this morning. Unfortunately, I had to spend my lunch hour trying to catch up on work email from the weekend and Monday.

Daily Check-in 6/6/08 and 6/7/08

I decided one report for yesterday and today was sufficient, since I spent my writing time each day finishing the book I've been reading as background research. It inspired many creative ideas but also raised some interesting questions I'll have to deal with as I continue my WIP.

Daily Check-in 6/5/08 (Better Late Than Never)

Sorry, everyone, I almost forgot to report in today. I'm tempted to just type "Ditto," because today was a continuation of the background research from yesterday... and the day before... and the day before that.

BTW, if you visit my blog (rather than just read it via email or a feed reader), then you can check out a new feature I've added: a sampling of other blogs I read on a regular basis. You'll find it at the bottom of the left hand column below the "Subscribe," "About Me," "My Posts About" and "Blog Archive" features.

Daily Check-in 6/4/08

More of the same today, once again both before work and during lunch. I'm now more than halfway through the book I'm reading.

I know these daily reports must be getting kind of boring, but this blog is part of the reason I've stuck to my morning writing routine. Knowing I'd have to "confess" missing my hour of writing before work just to sleep in helps get me out of bed each morning. Thanks!

Daily Check-in 6/3/08

More background research today, both before work and during lunch. This book I'm reading is inspiring some fun ideas for improving the events I've outlined for my WIP.

Daily Check-in 6/2/08

This morning's before-work activity on my WIP* focused on some necessary background research, and began with a trip to the Chicago Public Library over the weekend. I need to be more familiar with the scientific possibility of the topic of my WIP, so I don't end up looking like an idiot or (worse) an amateur.

And yes, I'm aware of the danger research can present for writers—which is to be an attractive distraction from the writing itself. I promise both you and myself not to let that happen.

BTW, Dad, the Lowe's gift card you gave us for Christmas has been put to good use: our gas-powered lawn mower was dying a slow and painful death, so we bought me a new toy yesterday—an electric lawn mower. Thanks!

* i.e., work in progress

Daily Check-in 5/29/08 and 5/30/08

5/29/08: I did write before work yesterday but didn't had have a chance to report it here until now. After work we saw the touring production of Avenue Q, which won the 2004 Tony Award^® for Best Musical. We've had the original Broadway cast recording for years and were worried familiarity with the songs would diminish our enjoyment of the show itself.

Not at all. The book of the musical was very funny, too, and it was great seeing the musical numbers performed live. It made for a late night though, since we waited to eat dinner after the show, and I didn't get to bed until well after midnight.

5/30/08 : Because I was up later than usual I thought I'd have trouble getting up to write before work this morning. But I managed to drag myself out of bed by 6:15 AM and wrote for about an hour before work. Spent another half hour writing during lunch, too.

Daily Check-in 5/28/08 (or: Excuses, Excuses)

I knew 5/27/08 wasn't going to be a good for writing because it was our travel day home from Poplar Tree Bay. Instead, the day was spent getting ready to leave; driving first to Syracuse (to drop off Scott's sister, Kathy, at the Syracuse airport) and then to the Buffalo airport for our own flight; finally ending back at our house around 10:00 PM. There was time during which I should have been able to write—the almost four hours spent in the car; the hour or so in the airport before our flight; the almost 90 minutes of the flight itself—except I can neither read nor write in a moving car without getting motion sick, and I'm too self-conscious to write among so many people sitting so close in the airport and on the plane.

Even though we didn't get to bed until almost 1:00 AM, I set my alarm for 6:00 AM fully intending to get up and write before work today. But expecting to be creative and deal with vacation aftermath in the office on only five hours of sleep wasn't going to work, so when my alarm went off at 6:00 AM I reset it for 7:00 AM and went back to sleep.

Daily Check-in 5/25/08

Put in a couple of hours today, some research as well as actual
writing. My face got a bit sunburned because I spent some of that time
outside.

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Daily Check-in 5/24/08

We were stuck at the trailer today waiting for a new refrigerator and
stove to be delivered, which was perfect time for writing. I put in a
good three hours at least. Not bad for a vacation Saturday.

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Daily Check-in 5/23/08 (A Day Late Again)

Yesterday I wrote before bed again. Worked on another version of that
"Hero's Journey" outline to try out my new hero character.

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Daily Check-in 5/22/08 (A Day Late)

Greetings from Poplar Tree Bay!

Despite hours spent traveling by both plane and car, I'm proud to
report I still found time to write last night before going to bed. I
continued working on an outline I'd started the day before, in which I
was aligning the events in my story with something called "The Hero's
Journey" by Joseph Campbell (as adapted for writers and screenwriters
by Chris Vogler). It was an incredibly useful exercise... even though
it made me realize I'm using the wrong character as my hero! And it's
better to discover that now rather than later.

BTW, I'm posting this via email from my Blackberry (our only form of
Internet access right now). Call it blogging-to-go! I can't tag my
post with categories this way, but it's just cool I can post at all.

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Daily Check-in 5/21/08

Another really good hour of writing before work this morning. Once again, I want to skip work and just keep at it.

We're off to Poplar Tree Bay tomorrow morning for our first visit of the season. I plan on writing while we're there, and less than ideal vacation weather may mean there's time for it. No Internet access in the trailer though, so I don't know if I'll be able to keep you updated on the ol' blog here.

Daily Check-in 5/20/08

I had a much better hour (or so) of writing this morning before work. Did a little research during lunch, too. Nothing much else to say today.

Daily Check-in 5/16/08

Sorry, I'm a day late reporting in! It was a crazy day at work, then last night was Doctor Who and Battlestar Galactica—and I had to cook my own dinner because Scott is out of town. After all that I just kind forgot to post. So, anyway....

It was a good writing day (yesterday), with both an hour before work and another half-hour or so during lunch.

Daily Check-in 5/14/08

A really great morning of writing, marred only the fact I had to stop to go to work. I considered calling in sick, just so I could keep writing, but I've got way too many things on my work plate this week to not be in the office every day.

UPDATE: I was able to squeeze in another half hour of writing during lunch today!