Word Nerd Gifties in Photos

A DVD of one version of Pride & Prejudice I have never seen before and a Jane Austen bookmark. Fantastic. I cannot wait to see what Jaimi sends me for this month.

Anyone else feel like sharing their goodies?

Any Updates for August?

How are all the Word Nerd partners doing?  I think this Word Nerd Co-Op has helped me immensely.  My partner, Jaimi, and I have given each other a weekly update during these three months.  For the most part, we have reached our goals.  I’ve given her some rough drafts for review and her comments have helped a great deal.  Hopefully, we can keep in touch even beyond this Word Nerd Co-Op.

How is everyone else doing?  Let’s get some updates on our progress and whether this Co-Op was worth while.  I think if this Co-Op continues next year for another three month stint, we should get some greater interaction on this blog.

Keep writing…and have a great remaining 2 weeks of August.

I’ve been brainstorming…

Proof (pictures) on my blog, Tea Leaves.

Favorite place to write?

Hi everyone!

Just wanted to try and start some bloggy convo with others about their habits and inspiration for writing.

Where is your favorite place to write? Do you find it hard to get “in the zone” anywhere else?

Me, I like to write outside mostly. I find it hard to write in my home, simply because there’s always something else that needs to be done. Coffee shops and parks are 2 places that I always feel compelled to pull out my journal and jot down thoughts.

word nerd questionnaire

I’m sorry I’m posting this late, I’ve been so busy! mine is here and my partner has seen it!

My Word Nerd Questionnaire

Sorry it took me so long to figure out how to use wordpress.

My questionnaire is here.

Seriously, I’m Matching

I’m waiting on one more questionnaire, which I forgot to send to the person.  I’ve got a good number of you matched up, so please, please, be just a little more patient with me!

Once the matches are done and sent out, I’ll get the blog roll updated with everyone’s writing blog, and I’ll also build up the resources links–feel free to let me know if there are any I should add.

I also thought we could do a weekly writing prompt here.  I’ll be glad to provide the first few; anyone else willing to post one?

Finally, I’d love to have book reviews of your favorite writing craft books.

I hope you’re working away on your goals as I work away on the matches.  Soon.  Pinky promise.

Questionnaire

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 would call myself a beginning writer. I’ve written fiction in the past, but it’s been a while. I am really hoping that this will get me moving with my writing once again.

2. What genre(s) do you write?

I don’t even know if I can answer this question right now since it’s been a while since I’ve really focused on my writing. I suppose that it would likely be in the chick lit type category, but who knows!

3. How do you fit writing into your life right now?

I am planning to wake up earlier in the morning in order to write. My job is changing, which will also allow for this transition.

4. What is your goal for this project (June 1-Aug. 31)?

My goal is to write every day. I am not entirely sure how much I will be writing every day since I haven’t been writing at all recently. So, perhaps I will start with writing every day for June and then establish a specific amount of writing that I want to do on a daily basis for July and August.

5. What steps do you plan to take to reach that goal?

Create a schedule, establish specific yarn/book rewards, and check in with my writing partner to keep myself accountable.

6. How do you reward yourself (or how would you like to be rewarded) when you meet a goal?

I’m a sucker for yarn (in love with Malabrigo!) or a new book. Maybe some sushi, too…

7. What writing craft books do you have/like?

”Writing Down the Bones” and “Bird by Bird”

8. Any craft books you’re interested in checking out?

I am open to suggestions!

9. What inspires your writing?

My life, my family, my work.

10. How would your author’s blurb read?

This is a tough one, but…Mandy lives in Chicago with her partner and three

cats. She tries hard to keep up with her housekeeping and bills, but spends most

of her time knitting, reading, and writing.

11. Tell us about your family (partners, kids, pets, etc.)

I live with my partner and our three cats in Chicago.

12. Have you ever participated in Nanowrimo (finished or not!)?

I participated once, but did not finish.

13. What can you do to make it easier on yourself to meet your goal for this project?

I’m going to create a schedule for myself, which will then become part of my

regular daily routine.

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 it if someone was checking in with me to make sure that I’m writing

every day, and then that I am achieving the word count that I determine by the

beginning of July.

15. What crafty pursuits do you enjoy when you’re not writing?

I am a knitter and a crocheter.

16. What other hobbies/past times do you like?

I enjoy reading, swimming, and hanging out with my friends and family.

17. What non-writing-craft books have you enjoyed?

I love most books, but some of my faves are “Bel Canto,” “The Time Traveler’s

Wife,” “The Power of One,” and “Prodigal Summer.”

18. What else would you like to share with us?

I think that’s it for now.

Questionnaire

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 try to take myself seriously all the time, but since nobody else does, it’s a losing battle. Just kidding. I guess I would describe myself as someone who is aspiring to call herself a writer, but a writer is someone who writes, and this is something I haven’t been doing much of lately.
2. What genre(s) do you write? Right now I write memoir. I used to poetry but I really suck at it. One day, I want to learn how to write a poem.
3. How do you fit writing into your life right now? I write when my daughter Ella, who is eight months old, is sleeping.
4. What is your goal for this project (June 1-Aug. 31)? Oh, this is a project with an end date? Nice. How about my goal is to get down three chapters of my memoir down. I’m working with stuff from my dissertation, but I’m having issues finding one voice for essays written during different times in my life. I also want the chapters to have one larger overarching main idea/focus with each piece being somewhat self-contained, but I don’t think they necessarily have to stand alone.
5. What steps do you plan to take to reach that goal? Oh, wow. If I say these things out loud, then I’m holding myself accountable. Nice motivational technique Miss Bev. I suppose I’ll have to write about 10 hours a week at least. But I have a hard time writing everyday with a little princess at home and I’m also teaching a couple of classes.
6. How do you reward yourself (or how would you like to be rewarded) when you meet a goal? Chocolate. Maybe Chocolate Stout.
7. What writing craft books do you have/like? Right now I’m brushing up on Vivian Gornick’s The Situation and the Story. I’ve also recently picked up Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott.

8. Any craft books you’re interested in checking out? Since I have a plethora at home, my main goal is to read what I have instead of cluttering up my bookshelves any more than they already are.

9. What inspires your writing? My family inspires my writing, since they are usually my subject, ha!

10. How would your author’s blurb read? Jennifer Schaller likes to read, write and clasp her toes together like a monkey.

11. Tell us about your family (partners, kids, pets, etc.) I’ll be married for five years in July to my husband Karl. We have an eight month old daughter Ella.

12. Have you ever participated in Nanowrimo (finished or not!)? No. Don’t exactly know what it is. Is this the write a novel in a month thing?

13. What can you do to make it easier on yourself to meet your goal for this project? I suppose I can let go of my perfectionist tendencies and not set the bar too terribly high.

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 really like my partner to heckle me when I don’t write. Something like, “Hey Schaller, what do the letters MFA in your degree really stand for? When’s the last time you wrote?”

15. What crafty pursuits do you enjoy when you’re not writing? Hmm…cleaning up food off my baby girl.

16. What other hobbies/past times do you like? Reading, Crap TV, going on walks with my hubby and our daughter. I mostly play with my husband and daughter.

17. What non-writing-craft books have you enjoyed? I once bought a knitting book. Bev showed me how to knit and then I knitted two scarves. I haven’t knitted since.

18. What else would you like to share with us? I’m such a blog virgin. I don’t even know if I’m doing this right, or what else I should be doing. So yeah, any tips would be much appreciated.

Just a little longer…

Wow!  I’m excited to read all of the questionnaires!  I had planned to make matches last night, but I was knocked out by Zyrtec at about 7 p.m.

I’ll get on it after tonight’s SnB.  I’m hoping that by noon tomorrow the internet will be a-buzz with Word Nerds!  And if you know anyone who wanted to join, please let them know they still have time.

Thanks!