My Questionnaire and an Ask for Help

Hi gang,

I posted my questionnaire on my writing treadmill blog.  Please note that I’m looking for a co-admin, preferably someone who is much more savvy with wordpress than I am!

Thanks,

Beverly

Answers to Questions

1. At what level would you describe yourself as a writer (for instance, just starting to take myself seriously; searching for a graduate program, etc.)? I am a proficient writer, but it isn’t anything great since I mainly write as a model from my students. I don’t envision myself in a graduate program for writing per se . . . just not for me at this time.
2. What genre(s) do you write? At this point, it is almost always non-fiction, either straight expository or memoirs.
3. How do you fit writing into your life right now? Whenever I can . . . on the blog that I share with my sister, with my students, for my students.
4. What is your goal for this project (June 1-Aug. 31)? I would like to have three or four solid pieces of which I can be proud (possibly one fiction piece).
5. What steps do you plan to take to reach that goal? I need to set aside time specifically for writing and not let cheesy summer television get in the way.
6. How do you reward yourself (or how would you like to be rewarded) when you meet a goal? Doesn’t everyone love praise? That does it for me . . . and sock yarn . . . and chocolate.
7. What writing craft books do you have/like? I’ll admit it: I don’t have any writing books unless you count the numerous educational ones that I have.
8. Any craft books you’re interested in checking out? I am open to any and all suggestions.
9. What inspires your writing? My family . . . they pretty much mean everything to me.
10. How would your author’s blurb read? I am a huge fan of the “story in six words” concept, so I think mine would say something along the lines of: Front car of roller coaster, screaming. But it needs work.
11. Tell us about your family (partners, kids, pets, etc.) Married for almost 17 years, 17-year-old twin daughters (you do the math), one dog, one cat
12. Have you ever participated in Nanowrimo (finished or not!)? Since I don’t know what it means, I’m going to say no.
13. What can you do to make it easier on yourself to meet your goal for this project? Probably doing a little each day no matter what platform (computer, laptop, paper and pen)
14. What are you looking for in terms of support from a writing partner (ex. Exchanging work for critique, being held accountable for meeting a word count goal, etc.)? I would love to exchange work for critique and someone to push me a little.
15. What crafty pursuits do you enjoy when you’re not writing? Knitting and fledgling quilter.
16. What other hobbies/past times do you like? Reading and reality TV – love it!
17. What non-writing-craft books have you enjoyed? Just about anything, especially non-fiction and chick lit
18. What else would you like to share with us? The Westing Game is my all time favorite book and I reread it every year, but I still can’t get past the ending without sobbing – even if it means just reading that page over a student’s shoulder. Oh, and I really, really, really like ellipses . . . and I’m a crap speller.

Just in!

Hi, I’m Faith. My post is over at my new writing blog, A Mind Rather Queer. I’m thrilled to be aboard!

My Questionnaire…

…is on my new writing blog as well.

http://carapalabra.wordpress.com

My Questionnaire…

is posted on my brand new writing blog at:

http://apriljaimi.wordpress.com/

Welcome!

Welcome fellow Word Nerds!

My hope for this project is that we writers, no matter what our level, will find a community that will help us to be more dedicated to our craft. Let’s celebrate our triumphs and help each other through the tough stuff.

If you are interested in joining the Co-op, e-mail me at wordnerdcoop AT yahoo DOT com. I’ll send you log-in information and a questionnaire. I’ll make matches in early June, and we’ll be ready to start our summer writing adventure!

Whether you’re just starting out or have a Ph.D. in Creative Writing, I hope you’ll join us. Partners will be matched based on experience and goals. While you won’t be required to exchange writing unless you both want to, there are a few rules:

1. You must contact your partner at least once a week. Please be encouraging–remember: do no harm.

2. You must send a small package to your partner each month (June, July, August). The value of these packages should be about $5…send something that will encourage your partner to keep writing, or perhaps a little reward for meeting a mini-goal. Ideas include pens, journals, gift cards for coffee or tea…use your imagination!

3. At the end of the project, you must send a larger reward package to your partner. Even if she hasn’t fully met her goal, I’m sure she’s done her best! If she loves to knit, a skein of hand-dyed sock yarn might do the trick. If she’s been eyeing a certain craft book, that might be a great reward. Be considerate, and send something that will make her glad she’s part of this project! The reward should have a $20 value, although if you’re making her a fantastic lace shawl from stash yarn, well, that’s just priceless!

4. You must set a goal for your writing for the summer. Share this on our blog.

5. You must outline a plan for reaching your goal. Share this on our blog.

6. If you have any doubt that you might not be able to commit to the terms of this project, please don’t join. You’re welcome to use the resources on the blog, but this is a difficult thing to “angel” and frankly, if I have to angel folks who have been left high and dry by their partners, that means less writing time for me. Please think long and hard about your commitments before you e-mail me.

7. Remember: this is about helping yourself as well as another writer in your quests to have what Wynton Marsalis calls integrity in your craft. It’s about support. It’s about being kind–to ourselves and others.

Let’s see what we can make happen in the next three months!

ETA:  if you have a wordpress account already, let me know; I can send you a different type of invite that doesn’t require as much on either end.

ETA2:  I’m opening this up to international writers, so please let me know if you absolutely can not send overseas packages, and I’ll try to accommodate you in the matching!