Best of the Archives: Battling Through Your Manuscript … One Scene at a Time

Missy Tippens

www.missytippens.com


This post first appeared in Seekerville on March 14, 2016 during Speedbo. For those who may need a little push during NaNoWriMo, I hope this helps!

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Photo credit: Bigstock/Yastremska

Have you hit a wall? Do you often get to Chapter 4 or Chapter 5 and say, “What in the world is going to happen now????” Are you at the midpoint of Speedbo (the Seekerville book-in-a-month writing challenge) and having a moment of panic, wondering where your story is supposed to go?

I’ve been there with you, and I’m going to give you two methods that have helped me battle through.

1.   Mine Your GMC Chart

If you’re stuck trying to figure out what’s going to happen in your next scenes and chapters, go back and take a peek at your Goal, Motivation and Conflict Chart (for more information, check out Debra Dixon’s book, Goal, Motivation and Conflict: The Building Blocks of Good Fiction). If you haven’t already considered your characters’ GMC, then take some time to figure this out. I’ve already done a couple of posts on this (Click here and here.) Also, Tina once shared an example of her chart on her white board, so you can take a peek at that (click here.)

So once you have your chart, look at each block on the chart. Brainstorm scene ideas that have to do with that particular block, scenes that will show that particular aspect of the character.

I thought I’d share an example. Below is my GMC chart and scene ideas cut and pasted directly out of my brainstorming file for the book that became The Doctor’s Second Chance from Love Inspired. (note: I = Internal and E=External, G = Goal, M = Motivation and C = Conflict)

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Example: GMC Chart for The Doctor’s Second Chance

(This changed a little while writing the full book and after critique.)

Jake:

EG—Work hard and play hard

EM—he’s enjoying his freedom; he deserves to have some fun after the responsibility that was thrust on him from a young age (parents’ death and aunt and uncle who worked all the time leaving him with brat cousin)

EC—Cousin Remy has dumped a baby on him (and he goes back into responsible mode)

Int need: secure family unit of his own

IM—deep need for security/belonging/connection

IC—He doesn’t believe that it’s possible so tries to act like it’s not important (instead goes for freedom and living in the moment—even dangerously)

Violet:

EG—build her new practice and take care of children

EM—she didn’t like impersonal large city practice/clinic and felt rootless

EC—it’s a small town where everyone knows everyone, and she’s an outsider so business is not picking up like she’d planned.

Int need: connection

IG: Have kids by doctoring in a small town community

IM: she gave up a child for adoption and thinks she’ll never have her own (thinks she doesn’t deserve it)

IC: She really does want her own but is afraid to risk loving (maybe harbors bitterness toward parents who made her feel worthless for her huge mistake. Needs to forgive and let go to get rid of the bitterness)

Scene ideas:

Jake

EG—Work hard and play hard (although this is really a lie—he’s just a hard worker, and has always felt he needed to earn his way)

Scenes that show him working

Gets asked to go camping but can’t. Asked to go skydiving but can’t (first inkling of having someone to care about besides himself)

Show in charge and strong in his job/contrast with lack of confidence with baby

EM—he’s enjoying his freedom; he deserves to have some fun after the responsibility that was thrust on him from a young age

Discussion with Remy so we know he took care of her

Comment from someone at church about him always being responsible

Scene where he realizes the baby is like him—“deserted” by parents

EC—Remy has dumped a baby on him (and he goes back into responsible mode)

Opening scene

Scenes where it’s difficult to get work done

Fish out of water scenes

Int need: secure family unit of his own

Flashbacks/dialogue where we hear of him missing parents and family of his own—especially when Remy resented him.

Showing him realizing he likes time with Violet and baby better than skydiving or time outdoors with friends (it gets easier to turn down offers of fun adventure)

IM—security/belonging/connection

Realizes Violet is filling needs he didn’t know he had

Doesn’t feel like the 5^th wheel with her

IC—He doesn’t believe that it’s possible so tries to act like it’s not important (instead goes for freedom and living in the moment—even dangerously)

Scene where he’s scared of how close he feels to Violet; feels vulnerable and doesn’t like it. Says he doesn’t need that closeness or someone to know him and makes plans to go skydiving, which V doesn’t like. (or does something else against her wishes on purpose to push her away)

Violet:

EG—build her new practice and take care of children

She agrees to help Jake just because she’s helping a baby

She checks up on Abigail, worries for her

Tells him she did not rip off his family—tells him he doesn’t know details

Begins to ask patients to spread the word that she’s good

EM—she didn’t like impersonal large city practice/clinic and felt rootless

Show her enjoying small town life—she sees advantages of being known, appreciates that others know her business

Goes to church and meets people; show first time she goes out and someone recognizes her, making her feel good

EC—it’s a small town where everyone knows everyone, and she’s an outsider so business is not picking up like she’d planned.

Show her going to church and no one really knows her; she’s an outsider

People call her Doc, but she realizes they don’t really know her at all; there’s no one around who knows her likes and dislikes or about her past; they don’t know Violet

Int need: connection

She has struggled and fought her way through medical school and now has trouble opening up and being vulnerable with new friends

Scene where she meets a new friend—in lab, Darcy, gets to know her better, feels she’s actually met a friend (could meet over the winning of the auction)

First time she attends church since the auction—a few people remember her by that. It’s a small sense of connection

She remembers that one time she went and decides to go back because of connection of the auction. It’s her only tie other than work.

IG: Have kids by doctoring in a small town community

Show her bonding with a patient; child reaches for her, which warms her heart. This could actually happen at church or in town so Jake witnesses it.

IM: she gave up a child for adoption and thinks she’ll never have her own (thinks she doesn’t deserve it)

Scene with Remy, can relate to feeling she’s not worthy.

IC: She really does want her own (family/child) but is afraid to risk loving

Scene where fear over loving Jake makes her want to give up

Realizes she needs to call parents and make effort to heal

Goes to see parents, takes Jake/baby for moral support

****

As you can see, I got a lot of scene ideas just from mining my GMC chart! If you’ve read the book, you may recognize some of these ideas that became scenes. (If you haven’t read it and want to, here’s a link! :))

2.   Know the Middle … And Then Aim for It

I love James Scott Bell’s book Write Your Novel From the Middle: A New Approach for Plotters, Pantsers and Everyone in Between. Since I bought the book, I’ve read it each time I’m plotting a new story to help with the scene ideas. (BTW, it’s a short book.) I’ve found that deciding on the mirror moment in the middle gives me something to aim for once I get past the opening chapters. So no more sagging middle! The basic premise of Bell’s how-to book is that once you know your mirror moment in the middle, that moment when the character takes a hard look at himself and wonders what kind of person he is, what he will do to overcome his inner challenges, then you can go forward to figure out the pre-story psychology or go backward to figure out how the character transforms by the end. Knowing this middle scene will help all the scenes have unity. And like I said, for me, it gives me something to aim for.

I thought I’d share another example. Again, this is from my brainstorming notes, directly cut and pasted, for the story that became The Doctor’s Second Chance. (Spoiler alert! I give away a lot here, all stuff I figured out before I finished writing the book.)

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Example: Midpoint Brainstorming for The Doctor’s Second Chance

Story Question:

Will Jake be able to take care of this newborn and locate his cousin before Violet gets the court involved? Can Violet fulfill her goal of helping children without falling in love with the baby…and with Jake? Or might the two of them discover that family comes in all shapes and sizes?

Mid-point mirror moment:

Jake: Is there really such thing as a secure family…this ideal little family bubble? For me? And if so, do I dare go for it? What if it got taken away? Show him taking a risky step: asking her out on a date. It’s a concrete move toward making them a unit.

Violet: Do I deserve to be happy? Can I really move forward and let go of the past? Show her admitting some weakness to him. Maybe she shares about rift with her family (but not why), how she’s felt she has to do everything herself. And then she opens up with how she needs him somehow (maybe she needs him to support her in town, by letting people know his opinion of her has changed). [but I’d kind of like him to do this on his own, and she discovers he’s done it because he cares. So maybe she doesn’t ask him to do that. Maybe she just opens up and shares her hurts.]

Pre-story psychology:

Jake: Parents died, “abandoning” him. Aunt and uncle took him in but he always felt he needed to be good for them to keep him. That “being good” alienated his cousin, so he never felt part of the family. His aunt and uncle worked a lot, and he got stuck trying to keep Remy out of trouble since he felt like her destructive behavior was probably his fault. Once she ran off, he felt a sense of relief, of freedom. Has been working hard so he can play and enjoy that freedom. Thinks he has just what he wants. The baby being dropped on him limits that freedom, and he feels that renewed sense of guilt, as if he does owe her. Plus, he’s just naturally responsible.

Violet: Parents were socialites, valued what others thought of them, worried about appearances. Were often gone, lots of baby sitters. She fell for a guy who needed her, and got pregnant. Parents insisted she give up for adoption, would not consider helping her keep baby, claiming she couldn’t give up her lifelong goal to be a doctor. But she felt they were more worried about how it would make them look. She resented them. No relationship since, even though they’ve tried and dad has apologized (mom insists it was best for everyone). She has been independent, putting herself through school and medical school. Feels she was weak and failed her child. Decided she would help other children by becoming pediatrician. Didn’t like large clinic and impersonal medicine. Bought small town clinic to be part of patients’ lives.

Transformation:

How can I show it?

Both have had ideals of the perfect family that they never had. Have to learn to let go of that. Have to accept a new picture of what family means to them now that God has brought them together, and to let go of fear of the rug being yanked out from under them. Must learn to trust God instead of themselves (what I’m learning now).

Jake: In the beginning, he’s still trying to be responsible and take care of others, finding it hard to ask for help. Connection is out of a sense of duty rather than out of love. Needs to extend love. Needs to accept love freely given. He doesn’t have to earn the right to be part of a family.

To show his transformation…He’ll ask her to be his family (scary and risky but worth it). And he’ll ask it even while she’s still acting cool toward him, so it’s even riskier. He’ll do it with God’s strength (when he is weak, God is strong).

Violet: In the beginning, she’s independent and all business, only willing to reach out for the good of the child. She feels driven to work to deserve anything good that comes to her. She’s driving herself, fighting her nature to want closeness and family. She learns she doesn’t have to work hard to earn happiness just because of her past. Needs to accept love freely given. She is worthy of love, because God loves her just as she is.

Or maybe what she thought she needed was control over her life when what she really needed was to give up control, to just accept love.

To show her transformation…she’ll sleep in past sunrise. (maybe in epilogue? On honeymoon?)

****

So you can see how I started by figuring out the middle. Then I backed up to figure out some backstory and scenes that will show it. Then I figured out how to concretely show the ending of the story with my characters in a new place emotionally.

I hope sharing my methods helps some of you! If you’re stuck, try brainstorming using these two methods. Come up with as many ideas as you can. You most likely won’t use them all, but you may find some nuggets that you end up loving! And at least you can keep moving forward on your first draft, even if you change some of it later.

Missy Tippens, a pastor’s wife and mom of three from near Atlanta, Georgia, made her first sale to Harlequin Love Inspired in 2007. Her books have since been nominated for the Booksellers Best, ACFW Carol Award, Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence, Maggie Award, Beacon Contest and a 2013 RT Reviewer’s Choice Award. A House Full of Hope was a Romance Writers of America 2013 RITA^® Nominee. Her recent releases include The Doctor’s Second Chance from Love Inspired. Visit Missy at www.missytippens.com, https://twitter.com/MissyTippens and

http://www.facebook.com/missy.tippens.readers

Comments have been turned off today to encourage you to read and write!

Best of the Archives: Never Miss a Chance to Speedbo

2017 is our SIXTH year to Speedbo.

We've heard every excuse imaginable for why not to Speedbo, but here's something to remember. Contracts, revisions, galleys, and other editorial requests will arrive at your inbox at the most inconvenient and difficult times of your life once your sell. You'll still meet those deadlines, because you are are a professional writer. 

Speedbo teaches you how to carve out time in your crazy world despite what's going on. Because there will never, ever be a normal day for a writer. 

Here's what some of our Speedbo participants from past years have to say about the month-long challenge:

 I'd encourage anyone who's interested to give Speedbo a try. I'm a fan for several reasons:

First, there's the timing. I find March a great month to focus on drafting. It's still winter here and it's bleak outside. There are not a whole lot of other things going on in March so it's easier to make writing a prime focus. 

Then there's the flexibility. Speedbo works really well with this year's theme of No Limits because your Speedbo goals are entirely up to you. You decide what works for you and you evaluate your success. There's no failing at Speedbo because whatever you accomplish is more than you had to begin with.

Finally, if you need motivation, look no further than this. The book I wrote during last year's Speedbo will be out from Love Inspired Suspense in October. Yes, you can write a book and sell it. I'm living proof!  -Cate Nolan

 I’m pretty sure the Seekers should apply for a patent for their Speedbo invention. It is genius. In my little corner of the writing world it gives me accountability without expectation and motivation without threat of failure. Speedbo has birthed new novels in me, transferred ideas to my computer screen and even given me new hope and courage when those two commodities were sadly lacking. Speedbo 2014 was a landmark year. I dusted off the novel I had begun summer of 2013, finished it, edited it and entered it in contests. I won the attention of an agent and now that Speedbo novel is sitting on the desk of editors. Maybe no one buys it, but the point is – I did it! Thanks Seekers and Speedbo. The certificate thing is really cool too!-Cindy Regnier

 I'll be honest with you guys, I don't always make my Speedbo goal. I know, you're thinking where's the encouragement in that. Here it comes, even when I don't make my goal I write more than normal. There's just something about reading everyone's progress that encourages me - motivates me to do better. So take the plunge, make a Speedbo goal and strive to reach it, but if you don't quite make your word count, don't beat yourself up. Instead, look at all  those glorious words you've written and bask in how much you've accomplished.- Terri Weldon

 Last year was my first time participating in Speedbo. The timing was perfect because I had entered the Love Inspired Killer Voices pitch contest, and I needed to get words on paper–fast.  Speedbo offered me the challenge of completing my novel in one month by giving me a deadline while providing me with an encouraging community of supporters. When it was all said and done, I didn't meet my goal of writing a complete novel in one month, but I don't count it as a failure. Why? Well first, I wrote daily (something I had never done). Second, I wrote more words in one month than I ever had before (roughly 20,000). Finally, I became a participant in Seekerville (instead of lurking in the background, I started commenting on posts and being involved).

This year, March is going to be an exceptionally busy month for me with relatives visiting and a baby shower for my daughter who is expecting her first child. But I'm already gearing up for my participation in Speedbo. I will once again attempt to write a novel in 31 days. Will I be successful? Only time will tell, but I know one thing for sure. I can't succeed if I don't try. -Rhonda Starnes

 Speedbo offers the ideal format for doing projects that I need to do but which I have been putting off forever because it always seems that taking that much time to do one big project would prevent me   from completing my more pressing short term projects. Of course, the right time to begin never comes. Speedbo makes the ‘right time’ arrive. I have found that with each Speedbo success, I am more motivated to tackle the next  writing project. Nothing breeds success like success.  In my three years of doing Speedbo, I’ve  completed a second draft of a long novel, wrote a novella, and added 25,000 words to a NaNo book that was far from finished at NaNo’s 50,000 word goal. If NaNo is the infantry,  Speedbo is the Special Forces. -Vince Mooney.

  Speedbo is normally my rite of Spring. I plant my Speedbo seeds: new words and goals for my new WIP. It’s a great jump start and keeps me focused. But I didn’t realize how much I need Speedbo until last year when I couldn’t participate.  I’m so glad to be back this year, knowing those seeds I plant are going to bloom!  And newbies, don’t be afraid. Set your own goals and pace. But whatever you do, join up! -Julie Hilton Steele

I have entered contests, and entered two of my short stories due to Speedbo.-Sally Shupe

 New Villagers: The tips, advice, support, and encouragement during Speedbo make the month of March a great writing month. It makes you sit down and seriously think about writing and what goals you want to set. Go ahead and dream! What do you really want to do? Whether you write 10 or 10,000 or more, one word at a time is how you complete a story. 

You can sign up starting Saturday, February 18th, through March 31st by sending an email to seekers@seekerville.net with your personal goal listed. Sharing your goal is only for accountability. Seekerville will not be sharing your goal with anyone.

We'll add your name to the Seekerville Speedbo Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame will be updated by midnight EST of each Speedbo Day, and your name will appear at  Seekerville.net.

Additionally, we'll send you a confirmation email with a Speedbo participant badge to add to your blog or website and a certificate.  

All participants who sign up by March 1st (March 1st at 11:59 pm) will be entered into a drawing for a little extra incentive -one $25 Amazon gift card to be given away for every 50 writers who sign up.  Remember you can still enter Speedbo after it begins.



Plus, we'll be giving away an $15 Amazon gift card (AND MORE) weekly during March (that's five times). All you have to do is check in (on the Blog) and let us know how you're doing. We have surprise book packages for our readers as well. All the fun can be found here. 

All prizes will be shipped out AFTER Speedbo. April 1st. During Speedbo all we are doing is writing.


So sign up and whatever you do, stretch yourself. 

Get out of your comfort zone.

We leave you with some Speedbo tips to help you prepare for March!


Print your own Don't Break the Chain & use it for March 2017.


Try the Pomodoro Technique.


Join author Carol Moncado's 1K1HR  Group on Facebook.


Check out Write or Die by Dr. Wicked.


Do you need Cold Turkey to keep you focused??

This post first appeared in Seekerville 2/13/2015. Comments are closed on Fridays so you can read and write. But you can still enter Speedbo today!

This post was brought to you by Tina Radcliffe. Though she writes slower than slow, she still does Speedbo every year. 

What's your excuse?

Connect the Dots: Speedbo and Pickleball and No Limits

Hello Seekerville. Sandra here with more fresh oranges and tangelos from her tree.  So help yourself to some Arizona sunshine as we get set to psych up for Speedbo.

I've already picked a couple hundred and look how many tangelos I still have.

This spring I have been playing in several pickleball tournaments. Last Friday I played in El Mirage, Arizona. Turns out the resort we played at is the same resort Marianne Barkman stays at when she comes from Canada to winter in our lovely state.  Waving at you Marianne.  She and her mom came to cheer me on as I played.

Marianne and her mom 

In case you are wondering what pickleball is you can see videos and learn about the game at www.usapa.org. So playing all of this pickleball made me think of Speedbo and writing. There are many similarities. If any of you have played a sport you will relate to this analogy.

I have taken the Seeker theme to heart.  NO LIMITS

In pickleball this translates into me playing at a higher level than my rating. I’m rated a 3.0 and have won many medals at this rating.  I could continue to stay here and get more medals, but I want to improve my skills and move up to the next level.

Silver medal in mixed doubles with hubby

How will I improve my skills?  I play with higher level players. My partner, Jacquee, is a wonderful 3.5 level player and she took me on as a partner. I have learned so much from her. I also try and play pickleball with higher ranking players. Its harder on me, but playing with them teaches me new skills and improves my game. I appreciate the fact they will take time to play the game with me and many offer helpful hints and suggestions.

In writing, I got a taste of the bestseller list with the Seeker anthology. I understand that I landed there because of the steller authors I was linked to in that anthology.

I decided I want to be on that list again through my own merits. I want one of my own novels on the bestseller list. No Limits! How will I improve my writing skills? I interact with excellent writers and listen to what they say.




Okay, don’t laugh. I have been with excellent writers for many years, but admit, I don’t always listen.  (Hush up, Ruthy)

So those of you who hang out here in Seekerville are getting excellent craft workshops.  When I started writing, the only way to get this info was through conferences. This is still an excellent way to obtain excellent training, feedback and motivation. Hang with published writers. Go to local RWA meetings, local ACFW meetings, workshops, conferences, etc. You not only meet other authors, you meet all the players in the publishing world like editors, agents, marketing staff, etc.

In pickleball, another thing I have to do is play every day. I sometimes play longer days than others, depending upon what activities are scheduled and where I am. But every day, I strive to play for at least an hour or two. When I am on a trip and don’t have the opportunity to play, it always takes extra effort to get back up to speed. Sometimes it even takes extra effort to get motivated to go out and play. It is easy to rationalize and say to myself  “You are tired from this trip. Take it easy.”

3.5 and 4.0 level players at Voyager Resort

In writing, you also need to write every day. I know you have heard this from all of us Seekers. It is key to becoming a good writer. There come times and circumstances where you might say, “I can’t write today, taking care of this business is more important.”  Well the business is important, but it is always possible to squeeze in at least an hour of writing somehow. I find if I don’t, I end up getting sidetracked and it takes a longer time to get back into the writing.

How does Speedbo help out with this? Speedbo is ramping up your writing so you get a book finished in a month. Well this is great training to becoming a continual winner in finishing those books.  Once you get the hang of it and get in the routine of writing every day, which will happen in Speedbo, it is much easier to accomplish the task . By the way, last Friday, Tina posted a great article about getting started with Speedbo. Check it out here.

In Pickleball, the reason I play every day because as in any sport, what makes you a great and exceptional participant? Practice, practice, practice. Yep, you got it. And the same applies to writing. What will make you great? Practice, practice, practice.

Hubby plays every day.

In Pickleball, I am working on my serve. The serve is important because your team can only make a point when they serve. So if your serves are not making the mark, then your team loses points. I have a fairly average serve, but I need a stellar serve that shows I’m a higher level player. My husband has a dynamite serve and he obtained it by going out every evening and serving over 100 balls. I have been doing that also and it makes a difference. I also take classes or attend clinics that focus on the skill I want to improve.

Clinic on serving here at Voyager Resort

Notice, I’m focusing on one skill. This helps improvement if you focus on one skill at a time. This also applies to writing. Many writers go through their first draft and then go again, focusing on one or two skills at a time. Rather than trying to see all of the elements in one shot, it helps to focus on one or two and then really nail them.

For example, I tend to be wordy. I’m learning to just write the story and then go back and delete, delete, delete.  Hopefully by deleting all of those unnecessary passages, I’ll recognize them as I write them and won’t put them in at all.

Other elements to focus on are show don’t tell, depth of character, back story, character arc, moral premise, GMC (goal, motivation, conflict), etc. These are all elements that the Seekers and their friends have addressed in previous posts. Check out the archives for those you want to focus on.

I want to improve my skills in writing and in pickleball. So how do I determine if I've accomplished my goal?  In pickleball, I enter tournaments. How I place and how I perform with other skilled participants gives me good feedback to how I'm doing.

Darlene and I celebrate and discuss our performance winning silver in Seaside last fall.

In writing, I enter contests to see how I'm doing. In fact, most of you know that is how Seekers got together in the first place was through contest wins. Pre-published contests give great feedback on how your skills are progressing. Pubbed contests help you determine how you rank with other writers in your category.

Playing pickleball with better players does improve my game. But helping beginners and those at lower levels also helps me. Focusing on specific skills brings my awareness of my own performance on those skills to mind and helps me focus on improving them. 

Mentoring the beginners. 

One of the reasons RWA and ACFW are doing so well is they mentor beginners. These two writing organizations are the only two that I know of that dedicate themselves to helping raise the bar in their genre. Critiquing other writers really helps my writing. I can see weaknesses and strengths in other writing projects that I don't see in my own.  We are too close to our own work because what we want to say is in our head. It might not be on paper so you have to really be trained to look for it. 

That is what is so exciting about my participation in Seekerville. We have seen so many friends join us and go on to get published. They really work hard to improve their skills and I would wager they write every day also. Many of them participated in Speedbo.  Yay!

As I mentioned earlier, I was in a tournament last Friday. Well I played poorly and even lost my serve, which is a sign of nervousness in my case. Reflecting back, I did not perform well but I learned two valuable lessons that applies to writing and Speedbo as well.

Not only was Marianne there to cheer me on, but other RV friends that I see during the summer were residing at El Mirage resort as well. They all came to support me. I was so excited to see everyone.

My partner, Jacquee is next to me. In the middle is Diane, who is the craftswoman who made all those lovely kindle bags I've given away as prizes. Next is Pam and Pat who do the craft fairs with me in the summer. 

But because all my friends were there watching me in a tournament, I got so nervous that I lost my serve and missed several balls. I was thinking about what they thought instead of staying focused on my game. Now it wasn't their fault. It was mine. I let their wonderful presence get to me.

As a writer, you need to toughen up as well.  I remember the first time I let a friend read my writing, I was so nervous. When we write, we go deep into ourselves and it is scary to expose all those inner feelings and thoughts. And we're thinking "what will they think?"  If this is too scary for you then you don't want to become a writer. You need to toughen up.

Entering contests, getting rejections from publishers and working with critique partners and editors can become demoralizing if you let it. You have to toughen up and say "hey-good lesson to learn" and then move on.

The other valuable lesson I learned that applies to writing as well is that I lost my focus. I was busy chatting away and having a great time instead of paying attention to the business at hand which that day was playing in a tournament. Now it wasn't their fault because they were there to cheer me on.  It was my fault that I became too busy chatting instead of focusing on my game. 

In writing, we can let distractions take us away from our focus. We get on the Internet and let Facebook or emails interrupt our focus.  We accept invitations to lunch or go shopping instead of staying focused on our writing project. Anyone else have that problem?

If you have committed to Speedbo, then it is like committing to a tournament. Yes, it is nice to see friends, but when you have a commitment and goal--you need to stay focused on that commitment and goal. Tell your friends that you can't visit during Speedbo. Shut off the Internet when you are writing. Stay FOCUSED.


So does this ramp you up for Speedbo?

If not, go out and play your favorite sport and get motivated.

We only have four more days to go to begin Speedbo. You can sign up now so you are ready  on March 1.

You can sign up by sending an email to seekers@seekerville.net with your personal goal listed. Sharing your goal is only for accountability. Seekerville will not be sharing your goal with anyone. Enter by March 1 at 11:59 pm for a chance to win a $25.00 Amazon gift card. Complete rules can be found here.

Remember our theme this year.  NO LIMITS!!!

Dream big.

Visualize your dream.

Pray about your dream.

Then JUST DO IT!!!

Yummy Arizona sunshine oranges off my tree.

Don’t forget to grab some fresh oranges and tangelos. We also have a juicer so you can squeeze fresh juice.  There is Chocolate Velvet coffee (would I offer anything else??), hot chocolate and Teavana teas.

So tell us how you are Prepping up for your favorite sport and for Speedbo.

Those who comment have a chance to win a signed copy of one of my books, OR an available e copy of a Seeker book.

Sandra Leesmith writes sweet romances to warm the heart. Sandra loves to play pickleball, hike, read, bicycle and write. She lives in Arizona with her husband and during the hot summers she and her husband travel throughout the United States in their motorhome where she enjoys the outdoors and finds wonderful ideas for her next writing project.

You can find Sandra's books  here on Amazon.  
Two of Sandra's most popular books are also audio books at Audible.

You can read more posts by Sandra here.