I didn’t manage to get any pages written yesterday. Went shopping instead. Yeah, I know that’s not an excuse. I could’ve worked on the manuscript when I returned, but I didn’t. I had other things on my mind. Things that have haunted me for years. No, I haven’t come up with any solutions other than I need to make up for my ‘mini-break’. I did manage 17 pages on Friday. Like I said, must pick up the slack today. If you’ve done anything cool and groovy this weekend, I’d love to hear about it. That way I can live vicariously through you. 
UPDATE ON MY PROGRESS
I didn’t quite make up for missing yesterday, but I did hit twenty pages today. I’m now sitting at page 195. My ‘guesstimate’ is that I have about 130 pages left to write to complete a rough draft. Why so few pages? Because I know I’ll be filling the gaps and painting in the layers over the next two months. That will take care of the page count quickly. I know I haven’t reached my goal yet, but you guys have no idea how relieved I am right now. This exercise (Fast Draft) is just what I needed. I’ll do a full write up on my experience when I finish on the 31st. (Or sooner if I manage to get these pages down.) YAH!!!
January 21st, 2007
Since when is shopping not cool and groovy? Well, unless you mean grocery shopping…
I went out to eat with my family and the DH’s brother. Wow, talk about excitment there…
Then I stayed up until midnight to get over 33k on my WIP. I meant to hit 34 last week and underachieved. Try to make it up today because I’m not going anywhere. It’s ugly out. Ice. Sleet. Yuck.
by Shiloh Walker January 21st, 2007 at 7:54 amObviously I need more coffee or new glasses because I read your post subject as you blew your great STEAK.
by Lara January 21st, 2007 at 8:09 amJordan, after 17 pages on Friday, I think you were well within rights to reward yourself yesterday with a little shopping. Did you buy anything fun? Hope you can get back in the writing groove today!
We celebrated my son’s 4th birthday yesterday. An exciting event held at the local bowling alley. Ummm, imagine sixteen 3 to 6 year-olds bowling 10 frames. Can we say chaos, people? It was lots of fun, though.
After we got home and opened gifts, the four Barkevichs headed out to the movies to see *Arthur and the Invisibles*. Barring the live-action portions, we all really enjoyed the film.
Today, I blogged about my up-coming guest blogger and how I recently dragged my way out of the quagmire known as…Dum dum dummmm…writer’s block. Gah!
So far, I’d say it has been a pretty cool and groovy weekend. *bg*
Sandy
http://www.sandra.barkevich.com
by Sandra Barkevich January 21st, 2007 at 10:36 amShiloh, Well, here’s the thing. I don’t like to shop…outside of bookstores. So although we needed the items we purchased, I still didn’t like going to get them.
The sun just came out here. Prior to that it was super gray and wet. I still plan to stay in and work. Must recover from yesterday.
by Jordan January 21st, 2007 at 2:06 pmLara, Since I’m supposed to be writing 20 pages a day until the 31st on Fast Draft, I’m not doing so great. I’d written 45 pages before yesterday and should’ve been at 60.
I mean I’m pleased with the progress (or was until yesterday), but I still have a lot to make up for. I actually didn’t get anything cool. I bought socks for Japan. I wanted nice ones since we’ll be taking our shoes off a lot. *g*
by Jordan January 21st, 2007 at 2:10 pmSandy, That sounds like a blast. I bet your son had a good time. Congrats on conquering the block.
We’ve been thinking about going to see that movie because it looked cute. Will have to check it out. Thanks for the tip.
by Jordan January 21st, 2007 at 2:12 pmI wrote ten pages in my already too long manuscript this weekend, and I received one agents comment on my 198,000 word manuscript making the slush pile rounds now on Friday. He mentioned he didnt handle anything over 150,000 words, so you were right about the market not being into extended stories. I will keep it in mind for the future; but fortunately, or unfortunately, my new over long manuscript is just too much fun to let go of before it reaches the 150,000 word mark. I promise to definitely think of a short story when I start the next manuscript. :)))) It wont be long, and I have some ideas. I really enjoyed your post at Romancing The Blog. It was both down to earth, and to the point. Nicely done.
by BernardL January 21st, 2007 at 2:32 pmIgnore me. I just came to pick up a vicarious thrill or two too.
by raine January 21st, 2007 at 5:49 pmWent for two walks this weekend, and hit 23 pages yesterday. Bit over 10 so far today so I have work to do!
Groovy and exciting? My toddler wants me to read Harry Potter to her. So we started on Chapter 1, Harry Potter and The Sorcerer’s Stone, today. She picked them out and pulled them off the shelf herself, I figured she’d be interested in them in about 5 years. This is the kid who kept bringing me Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats to read to her when she was 1, so she’s advanced. *ggg*
by Charli January 21st, 2007 at 6:29 pmThanks Bernard!
I’m glad you like it. I will try very hard to keep my red pens to myself. Good luck with the book.
by Jordan January 21st, 2007 at 9:41 pmRaine, LOL! You’re in trouble.
by Jordan January 21st, 2007 at 9:56 pmCharli, You’re doing great.
Wonderful news on your daughter. Start reading mom. 
by Jordan January 21st, 2007 at 9:59 pmJordan - you’re doing great. Your brain probably needed a day off. You were probably fresher and more creative today because of your rest.
Great job, you’re an inspiration! 
by Tina Gerow January 21st, 2007 at 10:35 pmThanks Tina! I’m not sure the day off helped. Those first ten pages were a beotch to get down. *ggg* The rest ran much smoother…thank goodness. Whew.
by Jordan January 21st, 2007 at 10:38 pmYou know, if I do something in the morning…go out shopping or whatever, I tend to not be able to get into writing when I get home. If I don’t write in the mornings right off, my entire schedule is thrown off.
Bad way to work, but I just can’t seem to change!
by Larissa Ione January 22nd, 2007 at 7:35 amI’m with Larissa. If I don’t write first thing in the morning until I can’t write anymore, I’m thrown off!
by Patrice Michelle January 22nd, 2007 at 12:38 pmLarissa, That makes sense to me. I’m an afternoon writer. Tend to make the most progress from 2-6:30pm. Not sure why. I think the brain is awake then. *ggg*
by Jordan January 22nd, 2007 at 1:40 pmPatrice, I WISH I was a morning person. I’m just not. Can’t do jack in the morning beyond drink coffee. LOL! And sometimes even that’s a challenge.
by Jordan January 22nd, 2007 at 1:41 pmHold on, you bought socks BEFORE going to Japan? Don’t you know that like, Japan is like the unofficial world capital of “cool socks”?
Whenever I go to Japan, I always make sure I have room in my suitcase to bring back loads of cool socks. My god, they have so many amazing choices of socks in those stores, it puts American malls to shame. Return those socks and buy your socks in Japan! 
by racy li January 22nd, 2007 at 2:21 pmRacy, No, I did not know that. *ggg* Honestly, I didn’t think they’d carry my whopper size 9/9.5’s.
by Jordan January 22nd, 2007 at 3:19 pm