Kerri Nelson's Blog, page 5

New 4K-a-Day Challenge! Starts Monday 8/8!

Don't forget to join me on
Monday, August 8th, 2011
for my 4K-a-Day writing challenge here
at the Kerri Book Writer Blog!

There will be writing, PRIZES, humor, PRIZES, angst, PRIZES, sore fingers and wrists....and did I mention PRIZES?

See you then...I dare you.

xoxo,
Kerri

5K-a-Day Challenge Kerri's Day #10 Results

End of the Road and Victory is Mine (almost)!

So ladies, we made it to the end of the road and I have good news and bad news and new news to share.

The BAD news...I didn't make the full 50K in 10 days goal (see below for details on how I did).

The GOOD news...BOTH Cera & Dawn took the whole journey with me and BOTH of you win your choice of a Courting Demons ARC or a choice of books from my backlist. Please e-mail me at kerribookwriterATyahooDOTcom to claim your prize and thanks for all your effort and encouragement along the way!

The NEW news...details at bottom of post (hope to see you here).


Here's how I did...

Day #10

11:12 a.m.
I've finally been able to get in a little writing this morning. Still fighting with toddler to get him down for an a.m. nap—he's fussing at me right now, in fact. But I managed to squeeze out 688 words on my first attempt. Will try to get in a few more before lunch. We'll be back in the car for the second leg of our trip this afternoon. I can only hope for a minimally stressful road trip so I can go out on the last day of the challenge with a bang!

11:41 a.m. Update
Got the baby to sleep but now I'm being summoned for lunch with the family. Argh! I was on a roll too. Up to 1318. Was hoping to hit 2K before lunch. Back soon…probably in the car. Keep fingers crossed for a productive afternoon.

2:27 p.m. Update
On the road and writing. That's my new one word motto like Charlie Sheen's #winning. My new word is #writing! LOL I'm up to 2158 and getting back to it in a moment. Gotta write while the writing is good. Kids are appeased for the moment but who knows how long that will last. Today is the last day of our challenge. I can't believe it.

2:52 p.m. Update
I'm on fire. Almost…literally as the sun is coming through the car window and setting my computer keyboard on fire. Need to take a break but I'm at 2926 so far. Trying hard to make it today. Pant. Pant.

5:20 p.m. Update
We are half an hour away from our destination and I've written all that I can write for now. I'm stalling out at 3567 for the day. Wish I could have made it to 5K total today but it wasn't meant to be.

Even though I didn't reach my 50K in 10 days, I came pretty dang close and still managed to push myself to write over 1000 words per day regardless of the obstacles.

And I'm proud to say that in 10 days I wrote

A GRAND TOTAL of 36983 WORDS!

Now, I'm going to take the remainder of the week off from writing and get some other projects done. But I'm going to commit to another challenge starting on August 8th. I'm going to do 4K a day for 7 days. Anyone in?

5K-a-Day Challenge Kerri's Day #9 Results

Brain Jumble, anyone?

Well, as we close in on the eve of our last day of the challenge, I'm still falling further and further behind. And my brain is feeling like the jumble of letters, numbers, and characters above.

This road trip really did me in with the last few days of this challenge. Too many distractions and not enough of our home routine to keep me in the green on my daily word count goals.

Cera had asked something about how I keep this up all the time with two small babies...the truth is...I really don't. I have good days and bad days and this challenge just goes to show that. But I have managed to push through the stall out I was having on this novel prior to the challenge.

Plus, today I'm proud to report that I've reached the 50% complete mark on my WIP and I'm super happy about that. It is all about the small victories sometimes.

Here's how I did today...


11:27 a.m.
Just now got baby down for a nap and things are far from settled or quiet around here. Suffered with "connection interruptus" this morning which took two hours to repair on my host's internet router. Can someone say, ugh?

Now it is almost lunch time and I'm still not on the writing track. I knew it wouldn't be easy these last couple days of the challenge due to being out of town but absolutely nothing is going as planned.

Will try to get at least half today—that way I won't have to run screaming through the streets. Or, I might just do that anyway. We'll see.

11:46 a.m. Update
Not bad. I made it to 751 just now. Need to go adjust my contact lens and attempt to move the sleeping baby into his play pen. I fear this may disrupt the applecart but wish me luck!

3:37 p.m. Update
One applecart disaster later...plus a long lunch, chasing of kids around with a dozen balloons that grandparents brought in for fun (?) and I've got the 3 year old down for a nap—toddler is fighting the suggestion of another nap but he's watching Elmo for the moment. I'm back and trying desperately to write and just got to 1481 words.

And that's all she wrote today...literally. That's all she wrote, folks. See you tomorrow.

5K-a-Day Challenge Kerri's Day #8 Results

Feeling CRABBY!

This was my worst day yet, my friends. Last minute urgencies before our departure and then a trip full of bickering kids and a Mamma-sized migraine to boot left me with my smallest word count of the day since I began. But I did write today and that is what it is all about.

Still made tiny sand crab clawprints in my WIP.

Here's how I did...

Day #8

2:11 p.m.
On the road for our end of summer trip. Will try to get some writing done despite the fact that I've made it this late in the day without so much as a word. 5K is doubtful with 3 kids crammed together like sardines in the back seat and a migraine headache brewing in my forehead region but I'll give it the old college try. Like when I was in college and waited until the night before final exams to cram. Ha!

2:31 p.m. Update
637 words accomplished on my first "car typing jaunt" have a new appreciation for Dawn and her daily bouncing keyboard challenges! Must deal with fussy children and race car driving style hubby…back in a minute to make a thousand.

3:53 p.m. Update
McDonald's break and two tantrums later (the kids tantrums—not mine) I've boosted my daily word count up to only 1360 and I consider that brilliant progress. Back later.

But I never made it back and now I'm all tuckered out. Kids are in bed and that's where I'm headed...6 hours from home. I miss my bed. Tomorrow I'll kick this challenge's bootie.

Night ya'll.

5K-a-Day Challenge Kerri's Day #7 Results

Going Halfsies (Half Crazy? At least!)

Ever have one of those days that just keeps getting derailed? That was my day. I hope you all had a much better day.

Here's how I did...

Day #7

11:50 a.m.
As you can see by the time, I'm super late reporting in. Spent the morning in a sleep deprived stupor fueled by raging PMS and further exacerbated by a trip to the U.S. Postal Service where the cost of mailing five packages was in the range of my house payment. Back home to deal with some publisher matters and just realized the entire morning is gone and I've written----ZERO words thus far today. Will try to sprint throughout the afternoon but I must pack to head out of town and 5K seems an impossibility. Oy!

2:52 p.m. Update
Got to 650 words after dishes, diapers, and assorted paperwork. Not gonna make it all the way today but too tired to beat myself up over it. Will strive for half way today. Who wants to go halfsies with me? 2500 here I come.

4:21 p.m. Update
Dragged myself up to 1521 for my latest total and the end of the work day is drawing nigh. That's a word that's not used that often anymore—nigh. Very Shakesperian? Anyway, I've been distracted by putting together my RWA paperwork to run for National office. I don't know if I really have a shot at it. I guess it will depend on who all is running for the position. But I'd like to do my part to give back to the organization. We'll see how it goes.

Must do a little laundry and then I'll be back. P.S. Just completed my 200th page of my manuscript. Woot!

6:19 p.m. Update
Checking in at 2262

7:22 p.m. Update
Late getting to the half way point but at least I got that far today which is a plum miracle. Closing out at 2507.


See you tomorrow.

5K-a-Day Challenge Kerri's Day #6 Results

5K a Day Keeps Rejection Away? (Wishful Thinking)


We're over the half way hump in our 10 day challenge and today was Hump Day! How'd my lovelies do today? I want you to know that I really enjoy reading your updates every morning. Yesterday's results between my two vocal participants just goes to show what a difference a day makes. No matter what those results were--keep on trucking. The next day will be better. I'm proud of all of you.

That being said, here's my latest day of writing mania:

Day #6

8:18 a.m.
Getting to work is hard today. Find myself making excuses by looking through all the other work piling up on my desktop. Ugh. Must get to writing. Must get to writing.

8:50 a.m. Update
714 words for a first round of writing. Seemed like more. Slow going today. Need to light a fire under me today.

9:08 a.m. Update
Okay, now that time I moved it along. Coming in at 1421 words. Taking a short break to stretch my aching back now. Back soon.

11:43 a.m. Update
Delicious healthy salad consumed and one toddler down for a much needed nap. Up to 2420 words at mid day. Going to take a brief pause and judge a contest entry that I agreed to judge. Hope you all are having a great and very productive hump day. Can't wait to put a wrap on this long 10 day week of writing. I'm ready for a break.

12:30 p.m. Update
Don't know how much longer the baby will sleep and the 3 year old is getting restless so I decided to push ahead and write more while I can still focus. I'm at 3232 just after the lunch hour. Pretty good. I just re-calculated how far behind I am for my grand total goal of 50K in 10 days and I still need to write 2068 over my daily goal to get back on track. I didn't realize I was that far behind. Ouch! Better get moving.

1:29 p.m. Update
4015 is my newest total. Need refreshment and maybe a short reading break. Sometimes it is nice to stop and appreciate the work of others to encourage me to press onward and upward with the word count. Back soon for more fun with typing!

6:09 p.m. Update
5085 words is my end of day total today. After taking a little time off this afternoon to judge the remainder of the contest entries that I had on the back burner and to spend a little time with the kids, singing the "Groundhog" song (don't ask) and of course…changing more diapers. I did manage to finish up just now.

Tomorrow is another day. Hungry now.

5K-a-Day Challenge Kerri's Day #5 Results

FIVE (almost) MIX & MATCH DAY!

Found myself at the half way mark in our ten days of feverishly paced writing--in desperate need of inspiration and motivation. So, I decided to mix things up a bit. See below for how I did today (despite the continued lack of sleep).

Oh, and I'll add a mini-pic of me with my brand new ARC copy of Courting Demons (this has only a proof cover here not the final version). I'm so proud of it!

Here's how I did...

Day #5

7:49 a.m.
More sleeplessness and today I'm in a bit of a grumpy mood. Kids are grumpy too so we'll see how it goes today. Have been up since 4:00 a.m. but doing chores and grumbling. Ready to write now…sort of. :-o

8:42 a.m. Update
Diaper trauma and other children related incidents have plagued my progress. I'm only up to 312 words during my pitiful first jaunt (although I did delete an entire scene that made no sense from yesterday). But I'm getting to a good part of the book now. So, I'll be back to it in just a moment.

9:16 a.m. Update
A load of dishes started. Check. A load of laundry started. Check. Garbage on the curb. Check. Children still fussy. Check. Momma writing up to 974 words. Check. Geez, this first 1K won't hurry up and get here today. I need some motivation or something. Feels like it should be at least noon by now.

10:28 a.m. Update
Started new Middle Grade book project for a boost of much needed inspiration. Wrote 1264 on that making my new today's total (2238). Taking a mid-day break shortly. Hope to get the other half of my 5K in this afternoon but we have company coming after lunch and hubby's coming home early—so we'll see!

3:38 p.m. Update
The company is gone and I'm back at it. After the brief respite I had earlier in starting off my new MG project, I decided to go back to my Mystery and continue onward. Now I'm up to 1746 on this novel for today making my daily total (3010). So, just a tad under 2K to go. I think I can do it. Caffeine is definitely my drug of choice. Back soon.

4:38 p.m. Update
Thought I was further along than I really was (due to my tired brain attempting to do math) but I still rounded it out at 3728 for my most current tally. I'll try to get in one more good writing jaunt before the end of day. Hubby is home!

5:30 p.m. Update
4192 is my official grand total for today. My back is killing me and I need to relax. Too tired to keep up the pace. Still pretty darn good, if you ask me. See you tomorrow.

Tally for today:
2928 on Mystery
1264 on MG book

Does that equal 4192? Someone check my math! LOL How'd you all do?


<<Me with my one baby that doesn't keep me up at night!

5K-a-Day Challenge Kerri's Day #4 Results

FIVE FIVE FIVE & MORE "Making EGGsellent Progress"

Back for the Day #4 Update. Did a call for more participants all over the web today. Yahoo Groups and on my Book Boost promotions blog and on Twitter. We'll see if we pick up any new victims. I mean, writers. :-)

A special shout out to Cera and Dawn who both rocked the 5K word count yesterday. So proud of you both. Write on!

For those of you just joining us, be sure to scroll back and read the prior few posts then jump on in and join us--if you dare (insert evil laughter here).

I'm beyond tired today but just think--we hit the half way point in our quest tomorrow then we can take a wee writerly break.

Here's how I did today (making up for lost time from yesterday)

Day #4


8:34 a.m.
Another terrible night. I've decided that the children are secretly conspiring against me to prevent sleep. Perhaps they are trying to drive me over the edge? I've been up for hours but moving in a slow, sloth like motion. Must focus on the task at hand. Many words await.

Of course, the good news about being awake over half the night was that I figured out a new twist for my book. The mind never stops working, eh?

8:55 a.m. Update
Good start with 650 words. Gotta stop to feed the oldest. My 10 year old has only just now rolled out of bed. Must be nice!

9:30 a.m. Update
Now we are rocking and rolling. Looks like it may rain outside so now it is raining in my story. LOL Up to 1292 just now. Gotta keep up the pace. I want to reach 3500 by lunch time. Already thinking about the pasta I'm going to have in another hour and a half. Yums.

10:12 a.m. Update
Had to break up a fight amongst the kids over a stuffed animal. Then had to threaten time out. Sigh. Still managed to get up to 1962 words. Trying to get about 1100 more in 45 minutes. Let's go.

10:30 a.m. Update
Fingers are flying. Stomach is growling. Pushed ahead to 2625. Yay! Almost at my half way point for today. Trying to make up for yesterday.

11:10 a.m. Update
3338 is my lunchtime total. I'm a happy girl. Well, except for all the in-fighting amongst my two eldest children. Only 2 more weeks til school starts. Sigh. Back soon after a bite or two or three. Starving now.

12:38 p.m. Update
Hunger sated. Children abated (for the moment) and another jaunt got me up to 3964. I'm trying to make it to 6K to make up for some of the words I missed yesterday. It seems doable now but we'll see how the afternoon goes. Hope you all are doing well.

12:58 p.m. Update
4637 is my new total and one of the jerks in my story just got what was coming to him—gotta love that. Taking a break to do other work with my Tutoring program. Back soon to go to 5K and beyond!

3:17 p.m. Update
Fed and watered the kids, cleaned the kitchen and received those beautiful ARC copies in the mail via the kindly UPS man! Woot! I'll share a pic on tomorrow's blog. Meanwhile, I've made and surpassed my 5K goal for today. I'm at 5331. Maybe back for one more jaunt later this afternoon. Must take a break now.

4:36 p.m. Update
Okay, I give. I'm stopping today at 5872 words. I have some other work to finish up and it is getting late. I think I did pretty good. I'll reassess tomorrow but I think I'm pretty close to being back on track. I still want to make my 50K in 10 days!

How'd you all do with your goals today?

5K-a-Day Challenge Kerri's Day #3 Results

FIVE...err...FIFTY PERCENT anyway!

I'm really proud to see all the progress you ladies are making over the past few days. Don't worry if you're not making the 5K goal. Anything you can accomplish is that much closer to having a completed project. Thanks for coming back each day and sharing your totals with me.

Today, I only reached a little over 50% of my goal. I'm a little disappointed but at the same time I did a lot of things around the house including a big project I've been wanting to do for a long time. So, for that, I'm glad.

If you're just joining us...come on and get started with us. Set your own goal 1K, 2K, 3K or whatever. Just be sure you're WRITING!

Don't forget to come back and let us know how you're doing each day until July 31st and be eligible to win a prize from me. Click here for details.

Now, let's see how I did today:

Day #3

8:09 a.m.
Slow start today. Had a rough night with the baby. When baby doesn't sleep, Mommy doesn't sleep. Awoke this morning feeling "hangoverish" and not overly excited about facing the 5k challenge. But I started it and I want to finish it…by dog it. See how tired I am? Talking like a real Southerner now. Here we go…

8:31 a.m. Update
One jaunt that seemed to go on forever just now and I only made it to 570 words. Today is slow going.

9:48 a.m. Update
One load of dishes, two loads of laundry and blueberry muffins later…I'm back at it at 1186 words and counting.

10:04 a.m. Update
1477 is my new total after a quick jaunt and now I'm off to do some cleaning and fold the laundry. If I can make it to 2500 by lunch time it will be a miracle. Tired now.

3:08 p.m. Update
Well, here I am mid-afternoon and I haven't written another word. My cleaning project turned into a major room reorganization including me moving furniture and killing both my back and my toe (don't ask). Now, I'm logging back on to find my battery is dead. Let me charge up and write and I'll be back. What was I thinking getting into that huge cleaning project? I'm totally off track for making goal today. Oy!

5:28 p.m. Update
I'm at 2124 now and that was after the kids awoke from naps with all kinds of drama and family dropped by to visit. My body hurts. I'm not sure I can make my 5K today with the 4 hour delay from earlier but I've decided that if I can make it to the half way point at least that I'll make up the other words over the next 2 days. That's my plan anyway. Back for one more update before I sign off for today.

5:47 p.m. Update
I'm calling it quits for today at 2777. That seems like a good place to stop as I've reach my limitations for today. I'll just have to make it up over the next couple of days. Right now, I want to hang out with family and enjoy my clean and organized home—while it lasts. Hope you all did well.


Tomorrow is a new day...6K for me? We'll see.

5K-a-Day Challenge Kerri's Day #2 Results

FIVE "YOU'RE A STAR" FISH!

Thanks to everyone who is out there plugging away at your works-in-progress with me. I'm really enjoying reading in the comments section about your progress. Hey, 2K and 3K totals are awesome! I'm totally killing myself to get the 5K a day. No matter what happens at the end of the ten days, you'll look back and see how much you've accomplished.

First drafts don't have to be great, they don't have to be pretty, and they certainly won't be clean but they'll give you something to edit and shape and they'll give you lots of lovely words to work with.

For those of you who are just now joining us, be sure to read the first challenge post here (and see how you can win an ARC of my upcoming release Courting Demons) and Day #1 results here (for a laugh at a typical day in my life). Hey, jump on in and write through the remaining days with us. No worries if you've missed a day or two. There's still 8 more days (my tired wrists are screaming at me as I type this).

See how I did today below and my word count meter is going up steadily over there. Yay!

Day #2:

6:27 a.m.
Thanks to my insomniac children, I've been up over an hour already. On a Saturday morning, too! Geez. So, I thought I'd dive right in and get going a little early today. I have a bunch of errands to run today so I'll be in and out but I'm determined to meet my goal again—despite my tired arms. Back soon with first jaunt total of the day. Wish me luck.

6:47 a.m. Update
Now kids have woken hubby up. Made it to 576 words on my first jaunt. Taking a short break but will be back. Good morning!

7:46 a.m. Update
Breakfast is cooking. The kids are running around like maniacs and Mommy is struggling to write but I managed to get to 1250 just now. Whew! I can tell already that today will be a hard fought battle.

8:45 a.m. Update
Breakfast is done and I've made it to 1882. I think I'm doing much better than yesterday thus far. We'll see how it goes. Off to get ready for the day and run errands. More progress must wait until baby takes his nap. Fingers crossed on that. See you shortly.

11:55 a.m. Update
Well the best laid plans and all that…errands were a success but nap time for toddler was not. So by mid-day today I've only reached the same half way point (approximately) as yesterday at 2527 words. I really thought today would go better but I was wrong. Still have half way to go. More updates later.

1:11 p.m. Update
The early afternoon finds me at 3134 words. I've used the method of switching up my book to some different POVs than I'd originally intended. A lot of women POVs in the mix. Now I need more than just one male POV. Who should it be? I think I have an idea. I'm going to try to mix up my afternoon sessions with a couple of new characters. Don't you just love adding secondary characters to enrich your story? Back soon with more. Dirty diaper alert has been sounded nearby. Ugh!

1:47 p.m. Update
Found a quiet spot in the house to sneak off to but things sound rowdy in the den now. Must go check on the brood. Hope you all are doing well. I managed to sneak in another jaunt just now and I'm up to 3812. Only 1200 more to go for the day! Need a break and some caffeine. Keep your fingers and toes crossed for happy afternoon napping for all children. I will attempt to do all 1200 in the next jaunt. Want to finish up earlier today.

2:50 p.m. Update
I didn't finish the final 1200 in one more jaunt but I'm up to 4391 and feeling the burn. Need to take a little breather and then back for a final update in a couple hours. This challenge is crazy! My brain hurts.

4:14 p.m. Update
After a snack for me, getting two little ones down for a much needed nap (I wanted to take one as well—but refrained), and relaxing for half an hour with a funny television show—I managed to swoop in and wrap up today's word count goal. After all was said and done, I did a little better than yesterday time wise but came in a few words shorter at 5068.

Still kicked the 5K butt for the second day in a row. Wonder if this can continue?

How'd you do? Did your stories take any interesting turns today?