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Later, while revising, I plugged my problem words into the Find/Replace function. It got ugly. I mean, how many times can these characters "smile," "walk," or "look"? Don't get me started on how often they "suddenly" did something or "usually" acted a certain way. And "really," are they the "only" two people who have ever "sigh"-ed? (By the way, I have an unnatural attachment to a few of these words and there are still too many of them in my WIP. I didn't have the heart to cut them all.)
If you aren't familiar with the Find/Replace function in Microsoft Word, I recommend you give it a whirl. Simply type a word in, then click on "highlight all." It will calculate the number of times the word shows up in the manuscript, and you can skip to each instance. Also, if you're on the lookout for pesky "ly" adverbs, you can type in "ly" and it will find every word featuring that combination of letters. Not every "ly" word will be an adverb, but it's good to check anyhow.
It's Friday! Time to set one goal for the upcoming week, one goal that will bring you closer to your dream or will enhance your life. It can be related to work, family, fun, or anything at all.
My goal was to do the first read through of the new book I'm revising. Did I meet this goal?
Nope. Nada. Not even close. No worries--I know I'll read it this week. And I feel good because I did finish revising my last book. Woo-hoo!
Here are your goals from last week.
CJ: Finish the piece you're working on and have it framed (it's gorgeous, by the way!)
Heather: Rewrite and edit 50K words
Jessica: Start jogging and start querying
Wendy: Get to 48K by the end of the week
JenniferinJupiter: Maintain jogging regimen
Lynn: Take a long walk every second day
Keli: Complete macro read of cp's entire manuscript
Nancy: Continue Blogging for Dummies and start exercising
Paul: Polishing WIP to send to agent
Patti: Get the revised proposal to Natasha
Erica: Critique a manuscript for friend
Cindy: Editing, continuing scrapbook for church, and critiquing an ms for cp
Maria: Complete two devotions and plan daughter's graduation party
Katie: Figure out hero's internal flaw, inner beliefs, and mannerisms
Karen: Work on articles and organize office
Terri: Pack, go to conference, and PITCH!!
Tyrean: Revise short story and write a poem a day
DianeJ: Get that dryer running again
QuietSpirit: Catch up on laundry and find storage area for books and such
Lofty, wonderful goals!
My new goal? Go somewhere special by myself, maybe the art museum or a pretty park, and relax for a few hours.
What one goal would enhance your life this week?
Please leave your goal in the comment section. If you're new to my blog, I'd love to see your goal too, but if you aren't comfortable, that's okay!
(I will be out of the house today. Track meet time! But I can't wait to read all of your goals this weekend.)
I love your goal! Hmmm... my new goal? Find fun and have some of it :)
ReplyDeleteI'm so excited that you recorded my goal, b/c I couldn't even remember it when your post popped up in my browser. I hope to reach my goal by the end of the day today or tomorrow. Does that count?
ReplyDeleteI'm glad no one was hurt in your accident! Except maybe the bag of M&Ms. I hate to imagine what you did to those.
Reached 49K. Wow, there's accountability here. I love Find/Replace...use it often.
ReplyDeleteGlad you are okay from the accident (silly lady--not you...you know what I'm talking about).
My goal is to dig into the Bible more.
~ Wendy
I'm glad you're okay from your accident, too. Car accidents are not fun distractions.
ReplyDeleteAnd I really like your goal this week. I hope it is okay if I make a similar goal? I'd like to go on an Artist Date to colour my sky again.
The snow storm this week didn't help me achieve last weeks goal!
Have a great week Jill!
Well...I started. LOL One query sent, one evening jogged. :)
ReplyDeleteOuch on the accident! I'm so glad no one was hurt.
Hope you get your goals done, and thanks for the reminder on ctrl f! I need to do that.
I use the thesaurus a lot and my handy dandy dictionary.
ReplyDeleteMy goal this week.... hmmmmm.....find five mothers to bless this coming week. :O)
My goal is to finish revising the first 1/4 of my manuscript ... yes ... I want the thing revised completely by the end of May.
ReplyDeleteOh - and lose 3 lbs by next Friday!! :) no more baby weight!
Thank you for your helpful advice on using Microsoft Word to get rid of those pesky repeat words! I have so many that I'm a little afraid to try it, but I know I should.
ReplyDeleteMy goal last week: finished the short story and wrote a poem every day. Yes, I finished it, although some of the poems aren't all that poetic, but I did get one or two gems out of the batch.
My goal this week: get off the dock with my new/revised story Incorporated, by writing 5,000 words.
Great post today, Jill. And creative minds think alike sometimes. My blog today was also about Word's Find/Replace function.
ReplyDeleteSo glad it was a minor accident, Jill! Also glad that I'm not the only one who hasn't met my goal yet...Notice the word 'yet.' I still plan on finishing my two devos today, but if push comes to shove, would be satisfied with one! Goal for next week? Clean the house - company is coming! Have a beautiful weekend and happy Mother's Day!!
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry to hear about your accident, Jill, but am thankful no one was hurt. I hope getting any needed repairs done isn't too much of a hassle.
ReplyDeleteFerreting those weasel words from our stories can be eye-opening. It's amazing how many slip in unbeknownst to us. Removing them can be rewarding, though, as we watch our stories improve as a result.
I met my goal. It took three days to read the 300 pages and give my CP feedback, but I did it. My goal for this week is to enjoy our DD's visit. She wanted to come home from college to spend Mother's Day with me. I'm honored.
Was praying for you! Those M&M's can be lifesavers :) (Well, that sounded funny.) I like your goal--that's a great idea, especially with Mother's Day this weekend.
ReplyDeleteI accomplished all three goals. This week, I have to work more on the scrapbook but plan on getting a few pages done. I also have a few chapters to critique (one down, two to go) :D and I am researching for the new novel. Soooo much fun so far (I even get to pick up a book from the library today--yay!)!!
Well, fishsticks,
ReplyDeleteI didn't get the ms critted this week...
Goal for upcoming week...finish galley proofs on a ms.
I'm still working for 1,000 words a day. In two weeks, I'll be completely finished with the first draft. Yay!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the compliment. Found a framer and hope to get there on Mon. The Eldest returned home from college for the summer. My goal this week is to remove all traces of the dorm room from the living room before my mother and sil visit on Sun! Hope you get your "me time" I'd love to tag along to teh museum.
ReplyDeleteGlad that accident was a minor one!!
ReplyDeleteI'm almost finished w/my manuscript, almost ready to send it to my agent. Maybe later today!
A goal for next week...to enhance my life...do at least three 20 minute stretching/yoga sessions.
My goal this week was also to do at least three yoga sessions, just like the commenter above me!
ReplyDeleteI didn't post a goal last week, but it was to run my weekend run in under 2 hours, which I missed by 11 seconds, but I'm still pretty much counting that as a success. The porch swing from the week before got painted & is now beige & rust free like it was when it was new.
I accomplished my goal! Funny how much satisfaction comes with the small things. Next week's goal: get a good start on plotting...how about, plot out 7 scenes.
ReplyDeleteSo glad to hear you are O.K., Jill. So many people are so eneretic. I managed to exercise quite a few times, but I didn't read my book because the next chapter means I have to get to the computer and do it along with the book. I know, I just have to do it. Have fun at the museum. My new goal is just to sit and think and reevaluate some things.
ReplyDeleteI knew about the Find/Replace function, but I didn't realize you could highlight or do the "ly" thing. THANK YOU!
ReplyDeleteMy goal for this next week is to get 5,000 words done on my ms...it should be interesting!
LOVE this blog. Thanks for telling me abouto the find/replace, which I knew about, but not the highlight thingy.
ReplyDeleteOh, I used to LOVE going to my kids' track meets--and cross-country meets--and tennis...I'll stop now!!
Sigh. Did not get my goal done but AM SO CLOSE that I went ahead and celebrated today!! LOL.
Patti
My new goal is packing for my trip to China!
To finish my final revisions!! *crosses fingers*
ReplyDeleteI'm glad there were no injuries in your accident. that would be so scary.
Have a great weekend! :-)
Jill, I've always read your 'goals' posts and thought it would be good to make goals (and I usually end there). Okay, one of my previous goals was to visit and leave comments on friends' blogs, and so I'm on course for that :-).
ReplyDeleteToday, I'll make one. The week will be busy at work, but my goal is to complete the current chapter of my WIP and plot my next novel.
My non-writing goal is to take a moment to smell the roses this week.
(fingers crossed)
Empi
Jill, I've always read your 'goals' posts and thought it would be good to make goals (and I usually end there). Okay, one of my previous goals was to visit and leave comments on friends' blogs, and so I'm on course for that :-).
ReplyDeleteToday, I'll make one. The week will be busy at work, but my goal is to complete the current chapter of my WIP and plot my next novel.
My non-writing goal is to take a moment to smell the roses this week.
(fingers crossed)
Empi
Jill:
ReplyDeleteI can't seem to get motivated. The weather turned off extra cool this weekend. So, I'm very lazy.
I NEED to get with it and get our house in order. We need to get this work done on our house.
I realized I had some inconsistencies in a story I am working on. This could change the whole focus of the novel.
Right now, I better focus on my house.
My goal = be friends with my ex. And we'll see how that goes... And I think I'll extend this goal to.. say.. forever?
ReplyDeleteWe had a car accident too! Some girl hit the back of this guy's car on the way to school and she was taken to the hospital after fainting. She was alright, and so was my classmate. My teacher was a bit surprised when he heard the excuse XD
Stopping by to wish you a Happy Mother's Day.
ReplyDelete