Monday, April 25, 2011

A to Z Challenge: U is for...


Well, today is the last day of spring break. (Kiddo goes back tomorrow.) And considering I still have yet to touch my WIP, I realized something.



Thus, U is for: Unable.


Ugh. Unable. I don't like that word.

(and U is for "ugh" too, now that I think about it)


But anyway, between the two birthdays, Easter, and spring break, April proved to be a tougher month than expected, so I'm not going to complete my book in three months goal.


WAH!


But it'll be okay. My crit partners are giving me an extension! (They're so sweet). So I now have until the end of May to finish my book. I only need about 20K more.

If I can't finish by then, then...


Well, I don't know what will happen.


But I know I will wear the L for LAME on my forehead for awhile, I'll be slightly depressed, and I won't be able to treat myself to anything nice for a job well done. So I think all that will be punishment enough.


So today I'm chillin', because come tomorrow I'm on a mission to finish.


Did you realize you were unable to do something this month?

Did you accomplish anything recently?


(Or tell me what you did for Easter) :-) **We went out to dinner with the family (all nine of us)

32 comments:

Lisa said...

I just wrote a poem about something I don't think I was able to do again :)

Ellie Garratt said...

Happy Easter!

Don't beat yourself up to much - you will get there. Like you, three birthdays and Easter have stalled both my WIPs and my Write 1 Sub 1 Challenge. I haven't written anything in ten days. I'm off to the naughty corner now.

Ellie Garratt

Karen Baldwin said...

I admire you for writing by a schedule...and you'll catch up soon. Me? I'm a pantser and am lucky when the inspiration comes at all. Editing though, I have to sit myself down and MAKE me do it. And what did I do for Easter? I'll leave a hint...GREEN, that's all I'm going to say here.

Katie O'Sullivan said...

Goals are good but don't beat yourself up. Life happens, especially when kids are involved. And holidays. And family.

In our house the kids hunt for their Easter baskets each year using treasure hunt clues... one of my daughter's clues this year was "One Two Red Blue" It took her 20 minutes to think of looking by the fishtank. Candy Brain? Oh yes.

Allison said...

I always have big dreams of projects I can finish each week/month, and they rarely happen! For May I've gone ahead and broken them into steps, hoping I can complete something that way! We'll see...

Allison said...

I always have big dreams of projects I can finish each week/month, and they rarely happen! For May I've gone ahead and broken them into steps, hoping I can complete something that way! We'll see...

Joanne said...

Hm, I like the way you snuck a "W" word in there too ... Wah! I hope that'll be your W post word :)

Easter was a beautiful, quiet dinner at home, very chill ...

Sarita Leone said...

U is also for uplifted, which is how I feel after reading your blog comments. Thank you, Jennifer. Your kindness began my day on a nice note and I'll carry that with me throughout the day.

Easter was tough here. It was our favorite holiday so spending it without my guy wasn't easy. I stayed home and tried to keep busy. Hopefully next year will bring more peace on the blessed day.

Again, thank you. And go easy on yourself. I have faith you'll finish your new book by the end of May! :)

Marty said...

"U" is for understated and useful - as in this "A" to "Z" series.

Wendy Paine Miller said...

We had a rockin' Easter egg hunt in our backyard. And we played softball back there, too.

Memorable day.

~ Wendy

Diane said...

You are not lame! Life happens on our way to the plans we thought we wanted to make. Hugs and Happy Easter! :O)

Stina said...

LOL Someone used Ugh as her U word this morning. :D

My goal is to finish my edits (with my CP) by the end of May so that I can send my WIP to my beta readers. Let's see if we can both achieve our goals.

Jaydee Morgan said...

Good luck on getting finished - you can do it! We spent Easter afternoon at the golf course. It was marvelous!

Joe Richardson said...

Yup, and it's the same Unable as you: I'm not finishing the first draft of my WIP this month.

But it's been a good month packed with friends new and old, and I'll look back at it fondly.

And I will finish the first draft by May 30.

Best,
Joe
u: U-turns

Unknown said...

Unable to visit and comment on as many of the A to Z blogs as I want.

Accomplished visiting and commenting on many of them.

I hope you will pop back over to my Simile post and tell us the title of the book (and where it's available) in which you used the simile you gave as an example.

Sincerely,
Lucy

Author Joshua Hoyt said...

I'm with Lucy Unable to write on as many blogs as I wanted to. I was also unable to propose my thesis by the end of the semester.

Carol Kilgore said...

Good for you. I think it's important to identify when we've missed a goal and reset the timing. Otherwise we beat ourselves up and accomplish nothing.

Hope you have a great week.

Jessica R. Patch said...

Glad you had a great Easter and hey, what's one more month?! :) I was unable to drink a cup of coffee this morning because I woke up with a monster headache. In my world, that's horror of epic proportions!

Michelle said...

February was my 'unable' month. I wanted to get the closets cleaned out. The job was still there in March, and I was able to finish it. That's the thing about work and chores they don't go away. Enjoy your day off!

Andrea Mack said...

Jennifer, I always set goals, because it helps to motivate me. But sometimes things get in the way and that's just the way it is. Set a new goal, and stay positive!

Unknown said...

I planned to finish my first draft this month. Hahahahaha! I'm not even close. I'm struggling to hit the halfway point by the end of the month. Sigh! Oh well.

Rula Sinara said...

April has definitely been a crazy month! But you'll make your new deadline :). I'm switching your 'Unable' to 'Uber Able'!!!

Amy Wood said...

Wow! A book in 3 months, I can't even wrap my head around the idea of me being able to achieve that. I applaud you for doing it in 4 because that is awesome. How many hours do you put in a day writing? Is that just the first draft or an edited version?
http://ifbloggingburnedcalories.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

I was unable to resist the cream eggs!!! Good luck with your goals :O)

Linda G. said...

Cut yourself a little slack -- you're still making great time. :)

Karen Lange said...

Have been feeling lame off and on, so I sympathize. But we can look ahead to make more progress, right? I have a better outlook for May! :)

Conda Douglas said...

It's always hard to miss a deadline, but remember writing is organic, sometimes it grows slow!

Sarah Forgrave said...

I feel your pain in the lack-of-progress department. Here's to hoping we both crank out the words soon! :)

Michelle Mach said...

I always think I'm unable to do things, but sometimes I really can do them, I'm just scared or not sure how to start. There have been times I've had to turn down writing assignments (because I'm overextended) and that does make me feel bad to say that I'm unable to do it. Good luck finishing your manuscript!

Kim said...

I can totally relate, but don't overlook the A to Z challenge...you are on track! Besides life is all about the memories made today...good luck with your goal!

Craig Edwards said...

I fear I might be unable to stop A - Z Blog Posting because it's been such a blast!

nutschell said...

For some reason April tends to be a busy month, so I totally hear you.DOn't worry, you'll have time to finish your WIP once the blogfest is over.
Great meeting you through the A-Z!
nutschell
www.thewritingnut.com