Ta-da, Whoot and Yeah, Baby!

My one resolution for 2013 is to celebrate, appreciate and express gratitude (or is that three resolutions? Hmm...).

First Drafting is a struggle for me, or has been, until I finally accepted getting away from the computer to write the first draft on the NEO works best for me. As someone who's spent the majority of her life in front of a computer terminal, coming to grips that I write more prolifically and stronger material away from the computer was a struggle, yet the acceptance is life changing. I am now successfully and prolifically first drafting (Ta-da!)

One thing I appreciate writing-wise is learning that I don't have to write in word count or page count per day and realizing that I can write in units, for instance I set a goal of writing a certain number of scenes or chapters per day and an overall goal for the week. (Whoot!)

I am grateful for the opportunity to write full-time. Thanks to a supportive hubby, a lot of hard work in the last few years (workshops, courses, research) and awesome coaching/mentorships via Savvy Authors, I'm heading into 2013 under the steam of much enthusiasm. (Yeah, Baby!)

Look out world! 2013, the Year of the Alexa, has arrived!

"And miles to go before I sleep." (Robert Frost)

Fifty days ago, I began my 2nd First Draft of Book #1, Series #1. On Day 50, I completed the draft.

For the rest of the week, I will work on addressing Kat Duncan's chapter-by-chapter writing mentor/coaching comments and suggestions in the draft, then will begin what will hopefully be a close-to-final draft edit next week.

In the meantime, while implementing the updates for Book #1, I will flesh out the plot of Book #2 using the Rock Your Plot methods and workbook.

Next week, I will coordinate and alternate the edits of Book #1 with the first drafting of Book #2. [Plus, I'd like to work in (somewhere in this so-far realistic schedule) the planning and start of a new series that I'm equally excited about.]

There are four other books in the series, plus other series/books I need to and feel compelled to write.

In the poem Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening, Robert Frost shares the line, "And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep." In completing Book #1, I accomplished a milestone, with many, many miles left to travel.

Daily Accountability (Kat Duncan's Workshop)

According to Kat Duncan's website: Kat likes to write and teach. She also likes to write about teaching and teach about writing.

Her Savvy Author's workshop, Author Coaching and Mentoring Program with Kat Duncan. The workshop description is as follows: This is a 3-month individualized mentoring program to guide authors through the process of finishing or polishing their target novel.

The level of accountability provided by Kat's workshop has spurred me to focus on writing a chapter a day. The daily check-in factor has worked well for me. Kat's comments on each chapter are insightful and provide valuable guidance for the upcoming edit.

Please check out Kat Duncan's Amazon Author Page.

Fast Tracking It! What's Next, Coach?

For anyone who wants to cut time off their learning curve and streamline their goal to finish a book, I would suggest considering working with a Writing Coach.

Had I had the opportunity earlier on to work with a Writing Coach, I could have avoided the following:

• Non-productive Online and In-person Classes, Workshops, and Courses
• Negative Critique Partner Experiences
• Needless Rewrites and Story Tangents
• Lack of Direction
• Confusion and Misdirection (from Self and Others)
• Lost Time, Useless Effort, Wasted Financial Resources, and Years of Frustration

Working with a Writing Coach, I am familiar with and am working on the following aspects:

• Fear Management
• Major Plot Point Understanding
• Dealing with Distractions
• Plot Point Layout
• Character Development
• Realistic Goal Setting
• Dealing with Avoidance Issues
• Getting the Book Out
• Accountability
• Realistic, Trackable Progress
• Cost-Efficient One-on-One Guidance

I am fortunate to have the opportunity to participate in Cathy Yardley's Coaching Services. Her methods are sound and workable and her rates are realistic, reasonable, and doable.

In the next few months, I will accomplish more with Cathy Yardley's Rock Your Writing guidance than I have over the span of the last several years.

Of all the things I could recommend a writer do to get on the Fast Track to writing a book, working with a Writing Coach would be at the top of the list.