The To Do List 8th to 14th October

Posted on October 8, 2012 by Vikki Thompson

Sorry if some of you received notification of a blank blog post yesterday evening. I’ve been trying to work on a new schedule for the blog, adding date reminders in the old drafts folder, and accidentally hit the publish button ha ha ha, whoops!

Anyways…..last week was a bit up and down to say the least lol. I had my major melt down on Wednesday about the Faber course (thank you so much for all your kind words), the Nano website launched (something I didn’t anticipate so early, so moderating the forums has kicked in already), and then at the end if the week I was feeling a bit poorly *all say ahhhhhh* 😉

On the plus side, I did achieve most of the stuff on my list!

1. Catch up with prompts. Done!

2. Finish one of the romance books. Ummmmm, nope 😦

3. Continue working on the Black Moment. Done! yay!!!! 🙂

4. Finish Sabrina Broadbents book. Done!

5. Outline some ideas I have for Blog Posts. Ummmmm, not done. I usually have a good 5 or 6 draft posts in my folder, but at the moment, I’m a complete blank! Lol

6. Check Nano forums…gear myself up! Done! Bit of a shock how early people started posting though lol

7. Do some more work on outlining Sorrento Sunrise (for the Writing Group). This weeks writing group meet was all about outlining. We discussed the different methods we use and I realised that I need to think more about my time line. Next week is about Characters, so I don’t really need to do any work on that in advance 🙂

Soooo, this weeks list…..

Ooooo, that’s an awful picture isn’t it! That’ll teach me to take it in the early morning lol

1. Check Nano forums 3 times a day on my days.

2. Finish Mick Jacksons book. He’s another one of my Faber tutors.

3. Finish at least one if the romance books. Carried over from last week.

4. Continue outlining Sorrento Sunrise, think about timeline.

5. Sort out a donation tin for Nano.

6. Start new Ideas note book.

7. Make sure I’m all set for Faber *gulp*

So that all seems pretty manageable doesn’t it?

What are your writing plans for this week?

The To Do List 1st to 7th October

Posted on October 1, 2012 by Vikki Thompson

Wow, it’s October, can you believe it!

It was a busy week last week, which culminated in the BookCrossing Uncon on Saturday 🙂

I took 15 books with me and came back with 6, so I consider that a result lol 😉

So last weeks list looked like this:
1. Finish Tim Lotts book. Done! really enjoyed it, and I’ve now started one of the other tutors books.

2. Investigate writing Pod Casts. Done! I can recommend Warwick Writing Challenges by Professor David Morley, although, he’s very English lol

3. Sort out books to take to Bookcrossing Uncon. Done! And been!

4. Place Nano order for ML stuff. Done!

5. Clear inbox! Done!

6. Update Blog Film Fest list. Done!

7. Finish at least 1 of the romance books. failed miserably 😦 I think I only read a couple of chapters. I was so intent on getting Tim Lotts book finished lol

8. Try to come up with Sorrento Sunrises black moment. Hmmmmm, semi done lol. I’m really struggling with this. A reason why she has to go back to England, gawd, it’s hard 😦

So a fairly productive week, although I’ve fallen behind by a couple of days with my prompts, which actually means I haven’t written anything since Friday *sharp intake of breath* so I’m beginning to get agitated lol.

This weeks list:

1. Catch up with prompts.

2. Finish one of the romance books.

3. Continue working on the Black Moment.

4. Finish Sabrina Broadbents book.

5. Outline some ideas I have for Blog Posts.

6. Check Nano forums…gear myself up!

7. Do some more work on outlining Sorrento Sunrise (for the Writing Group).

There, that should be quite manageable 🙂 I try not to pile too much on myself or nothing will get done 😉 But, my priority for today is to work on a little interview thing for Anushka (at Finding My Creature). When I’ve finished that, I can start on the list 🙂

So what are your writing plans for the week?

The To Do List 24th to 30th September

Posted on September 24, 2012 by Vikki Thompson

Last weeks to do list was kind of productive lol

1. Continue reading romance guides. That won’t be difficult lol Yep, I knew this wouldn’t be hard 🙂

2. Continue making notes on Sorrento Sunrise. Talked it through with a couple of friends, came up with some other ideas, but still stuck on the ‘black moment’

3. Sort out writing group stuff. We now have an email addy and have set up a FaceBook group… Maidstone Writers is nearly fit to go! All sorted, first meet is this coming Thursday!

4. Finish reading current book. This might be hard, but I’m aiming to read a book a week (ha bloody ha!). Hmmmmm, haven’t managed this. I’m reading Under The Same Stars by Tim Lott. Enjoying it, but I seem to only be reading in bed lol

5. Start going to the gym. I should really have done that one last week, but, to be honest, I didn’t feel too good (*whispers* women’s problems – TMI? Probably lol) Oh dear, this didn’t happen 😦

6. Continue with diet/healthy eating. Hate it, but gotta be done Yep, went well, but had a couple of bad days lol.

7. Keep up to date with daily prompts. Done, the desk has really helped!

I also managed to do an article for a fellow blogger which I only found out about mid week 🙂

Ok, so what’s on this weeks list…..

1. Finish Tim Lotts book.

2. Investigate writing Pod Casts. as suggested by Peter Germany in the comments on one of my previous posts.

3. Sort out books to take to Bookcrossing Uncon. I’ll be posting about that at the weekend 🙂

4. Place Nano order for ML stuff.

5. Clear inbox! this is desperate….it’s a mess, I’m so behind 😦

6. Update Blog Film Fest list.

7. Finish at least 1 of the romance books.

8. Try to come up with Sorrento Sunrises black moment.

Note that there is no mention of diets and gyms lol. I will still be trying to eat healthily, and still aim to get to the gym this week *snigger* 😉

What are your plans for the week?

Oh, before I go, anyone fancy some FREE Audio books? Check out this website if you do 🙂

The To Do List 17th to 23rd September

Posted on September 17, 2012 by Vikki Thompson

I did quite well with last weeks list 🙂

1. Finish current read and start Tim Lotts book. Yep, I finished what I was reading, plus, read a Mills & Boon in between *snigger* 😉 Started Tim’s book yesterday!

2. Carry on with the planning of Sorrento Sunrise. Yep, have come up with the basic plot line, some ideas for scenes, still a little bit stuck on the ‘black moment’ but other than that it’s going well 🙂

3. Sort out stuff I need to do for new writing group. Didn’t really have to do much to be honest, but, there will be some more stuff to do this week 🙂

4. Continue reading romance guides. Have thoroughly enjoyed this task. I’m still reading them and will be for a few more weeks lol

5. Do a timetable inc setting aside time for exercise. Ahhhh, now this was a complete disaster! 😦 Not because I couldn’t do it. I sat at my desk for over an hour, it’s just not gunna work for me 😦 It’s not something I can stick to so I’m not going to pressure myself. Timetables are OUT!

6. Start the diet again. I did, sort of lol. I’m not calorie counting or going to WW just yet. I’ve just tried to cut out all the crap, and believe me, there was lots of it! Lol….I even had a pack of choccie bikkies in the fridge all week and I didn’t touch em! Ok, ok, I had 2 lol 😉

7. Keep up to date with my prompts. Thanks to the desk I haven’t been behind once 🙂

Sooooo, onto this weeks list…..it’s a kinda TBC list.

1. Continue reading romance guides. That won’t be difficult lol

2. Continue making notes on Sorrento Sunrise.

3. Sort out writing group stuff. We now have an email addy and have set up a FaceBook group… Maidstone Writers is nearly fit to go!

4. Finish reading current book. This might be hard, but I’m aiming to read a book a week (ha bloody ha!).

5. Start going to the gym. I should really have done that one last week, but, to be honest, I didn’t feel too good (*whispers* women’s problems – TMI? Probably lol)

6. Continue with diet/healthy eating. Hate it, but gotta be done 😦

7. Keep up to date with daily prompts.

so what are your plans for the week?

The To Do List – 10th to 16th September

Posted on September 10, 2012 by Vikki Thompson

Well, hello September! 🙂

It’s actually my favourite month. Not too warm (I burn easily see), not too cold (I’m always cold, ask the hubby). It’s just perfect 🙂

Yeah yeah, I know it’s been September for a while now, but I’ve had hubby at home on “staycation” so things have been a little up in the air. It’s good to get back to normal, if you know what I mean 🙂

I didn’t do a “to do list” last week, there wasn’t really much point. I did manage to achieve most of what was on the previous list though 🙂 So, this week….let’s see 🙂

1. Finish current read and start Tim Lotts book. Tim is my tutor at Faber, so I should really read at least one of his books shouldn’t I?

2. Carry on with the planning of Sorrento Sunrise Yes, yes, I know it’s a naff title, but this is Mills & Boon remember 😉

3. Sort out stuff I need to do for new writing group. Very exciting, and more about that at a later date when it’s all set up!

4. Continue reading romance guides. I’ve got about 6 on the go at the moment lol

5. Do a timetable inc setting aside time for exercise. *groans* I have a severe case of writers bum, so I need to get back to the gym 😦

6. Start the diet again. Oh dear, note the word again lol

7. Keep up to date with my prompts.

There, that shouldn’t be too hard should it? 😉

what are you up to this week?

The To Do List 27th August to 2nd September

Posted on August 27, 2012 by Vikki Thompson

I had a pretty productive week 🙂

1. Finish my current read. That should be easy as I’m really enjoying it.
Done! I’m on to another 🙂
2. Go through all my Swanwick notes and look up web sites, books, authors etc, who were recommended to me. This will probably take me a couple of days! Lol
Done! I ended up buying another 10 books….whoops! (I hope hubby skim reads that bit lol)
3. E mail people I said I would at Swanwick.
Done!
4. Catch up with my prompts.
I did, I’m totally up to date 🙂
5. Start implementing the desk idea. Ahhhhh, now this is exciting.
Oooooo, I did 🙂
6. Start making notes on my M & B novel.
Done! VERY successfully 🙂

So this week I have hubby off work, so I’m looking forward to some days out 🙂 And with that in mind, the to do list will need to reflect that.

1. Finish my book. I started reading All That Mullarkey by Sue Moorcroft. Really enjoying it so this one shouldn’t be too hard.
2. Stay on track with prompts.
3. Make more notes on the M & B novel – especially title, characters and a synopsis.
4. Do some more work on the “desk” project.
5. Look at and bookmark all the photo sites Kirsten suggested on my Blogger Beware post.

So a few early mornings for me, so I can fit some writing time in 🙂

what are you up to this week?

The To Do List 20th to 26th August (the-view-outside.com)

The To Do List 20th to 26th August

Posted on August 20, 2012 by Vikki Thompson

I should really go back to the last to do list, and see what I managed to achieve….but, what’s the point in beating myself up right? It was 2 weeks ago now lol.

My week at Swanwick taught me lots, but the main thing I came away thinking was that I need to be more focused lol. Yeah yeah, I knew that anyway, but, being surrounded by dedicated published writers made me realise that if I want to achieve my dreams, I really need to pull my finger out 🙂

So…..

1. Finish my current read. That should be easy as I’m really enjoying it.
2. Go through all my Swanwick notes and look up web sites, books, authors etc, who were recommended to me. This will probably take me a couple of days! Lol
3. E mail people I said I would at Swanwick.
4. Catch up with my prompts.
5. Start implementing the desk idea. Ahhhhh, now this is exciting 🙂
6. Start making notes on my M & B novel. 😉

There, that should be pretty achievable ha ha ha!

what are you up to this week?

The To Do List 16th to 22nd

Posted on July 16, 2012 by Vikki Thompson

I’m really pleased with myself 🙂 I did well last week!

Critique subs for Mermaids (my writing group) I didn’t manage to get to the meeting because I had to pick my daughter up in Brighton. I did however read through the subs.

Do my Pocket Novel Homework Done, and earlier than usual to boot!

Do a synopsis for my Pocket Novel (which is homework for my Writing Class) Done and critiqued by my fellow students. Needs LOTS more work, but then, as I haven’t even got a real plot yet, the whole thing needs work lol.

Try to finish my current read Ah, no, not exactly. What can I say, I’m reading 50 Shades lol. But I’m nearly finished, and have read much more this week than I’ve done for ages lol

Critique story for a friend and look into comps for her Done 🙂 And if she’s reading this, it went in the post over the weekend 🙂

So a fairly productive week me thinks 🙂

Now….this week, may not go so well lol

On Tuesday I’m meeting up with some writers from my writing group, for a “write in” so that will be good. Wednesday at writing class we have a guy coming who’s a scriptwriter for a talk. Friday evening I’m up London, at London Zoo *chuckles* and then Saturday I’ll be helping hubby with a Chess Congress and trying to pack for my writing holiday, I’ll be going on Sunday morning…exciting!!!!! 🙂

I bought a diary a couple of days ago, so I’m going to start using that for my to do lists 🙂

Sooooo, the plans for the week are:

Do my Pocket Novel homework and upload.
Work on my Pocket Novel Synopsis and try to formulate a plan for the plot.
Read fellow bloggers short story & give feedback
Finish my current read and decide which book to take with me to Caerleon.
Buy stuff that I’ll need for Caerleon.
Get car serviced because, if I don’t, I won’t even make it there lol.

There, that’s not too bad, I can achieve all that right? Next weeks schedule will be a bit up and down as I’m intending to go live as it were lol. I’ll be blogging every day telling you all what I’ve been up to on the writing holiday 🙂

What are your plans for the week?

The To Do List 9th to 15th July (the-view-outside.com)
A Writers Holiday (the-view-outside.com)
20 Things I Learnt From An Agent (the-view-outside.com)
To Do List – 2nd to 8th July (the-view-outside.com)
Critiquing With Confidence (the-view-outside.com)

To Do List – 2nd to 8th July

Posted on July 2, 2012 by Vikki Thompson

Well, I’m liking this whole “to do list” thing I’ve got going on, much better than “goals” lol.

I did ok this week, well, kinda lol

Do my homework (a character sketch of a Hero) for Sally Quilford’s Pocket Novel Course. Yep, did that 🙂

Tidy my work space. I now have 5 piles Ummm, sort of, I’ve got it back to 3 piles, but it still needs going through lol

Sort out the blog awards & memes I received and was tagged with over the last 2 weeks. Done that, although the Meme posts have been done and in my draft folder. I’ve just got to find a free day to post them, I have so much to say about other stuff lol

Upload all my photos to Flickr Ah, now, this didn’t get done 😦 But only coz I was out all day Saturday at a workshop (will tell you all when I get a chance lol).

Decide what to do with the WIP (But Not Forgotten). Hmmmm, yeah, I have made a decision, but you’ll have to wait til Wednesday to find out what 🙂

I’ve got a fairly free week coming up…. Tomorrow I’m having a skin tag removed (yuk yuk yuk), then Wednesday is Insecure Writers Support Group Day (where I will definitely be talking about the WIP) and that’s really all I have in my diary, apart from writing class 🙂

Soooooo, my “to do” list for this coming week is……

Read through my WIP with the idea of making notes on the ending lol

Tidy my workspace, I mean really tidy it lol

Do my home work for the Pocket Novel course

Upload all my pics to Flickr

Read at least 1 book this week I’m fed up not reading. It’s ridiculous!

There, that’s not too bad is it? 😉

I’ve also decided to start taking part in Six Sentence Sundays so my picture prompt will move to Saturdays from now on 🙂

What are your plans for the week?

This Weeks To Do List 25th to 1st (the-view-outside.com)

This Weeks Goals….Possibly lol

Posted on June 11, 2012 by Vikki Thompson

Firstly, yesterday’s For Sale prompt…..

There are so many reasons why a house would be for sale aren’t there. It made me think of a situation me and my husband once found ourselves in where we were viewing a house because of a marriage break up 😦 The wife and the kids were still living in the property, but it was obvious they didn’t want to move. She couldn’t even bring herself to show us round, and the house was an absolute mess. She didn’t want us putting an offer in. We felt uncomfortable and reluctant to even go down that route.

Peter and Annabelle Hewitt fell in love with 28 Star Hill the moment they lay eyes on the elegant Georgian terrace. Stretching themselves to their absolute financial limit they managed to purchase the property for just below the asking price. They set to work. Modernising the interiors, creating an office for Peter, a playroom for baby Jack. The financial strain was immense, but, in Peters eyes, a good investment.

After 5 years of struggle, the house was finished, but so was their marriage. As joint owners Peter insisted that it be sold or that Annabelle buy him out. Heartbroken at her husbands affair and the loss of her beautiful home, Annabelle reluctantly moved in with her parents. She was unable to buy Peter out and her anger rose with each new couple who viewed the property.

When the agents call finally came, saying that an offer had been made and that her husband had accepted, Annabelle made a decision. The night before contracts were exchanged, she tiptoed through the front door carrying a sledgehammer and 2 cans of spray paint…….

In future, I’ll post a prompt on Sunday, and then a response on Tuesday 🙂

Thanks again to everyone who offered advice to my Insecure post.

I have decided, yes, I still need to set myself goals, a to do list. I need to work to a schedule, have a plan or a time table. So now, I just need to come up with something that will work for me lol. I’m just sooo fed up with not hitting my goals every week, so I need them to be lower. A cop out? Probably!

So rather than post a list of Goals every Monday, I’m thinking that I’ll just post a couple of things I plan to do this week, not analyse what I didn’t achieve last week, and then work with a daily to do list. I won’t post that daily and bore you all rigid lol.

Sooooo, Saturday, I started my Romance writing course with Sally Quilford so will need to do some work on that.

Today, I’m meeting up with a fellow Nano friend so I will take my laptop, and maybe i’ll get chance to do some editing (if we don’t just constantly talk lol).

Tonight, I’m at my Writing Group, but we have a speaker, so that’s ok.

And then Wednesday it’s Writing Class 🙂

Not a particularly busy week, until you take into consideration I’m going on holiday on Saturday (16th). Yep, I’m off for a week. I’d like to say, I’m jetting off to sun, sea and sand….but something tells me that’s not going to be the case, as I’m off to Jersey, and I’ve been told the weather is not much different there than it is here lol. I better take jumpers and an umbrella then lol.

So I need to do some scheduled posting for the old Blog. Hopefully I’ll have WiFi….but if I go quiet, you’ll know why lol

So I’m kind of loathe to plan anything around the WIP, but I should shouldn’t I?

Ok, let me see…..this week I will edit another 20 pages! There, that’s it, I can manage that can’t I? Lol

So what are you up to this week?