The Sunday Circle is the weekly check-in where I ask the creative-types who follow this blog to weigh in about their goals, inspirations, and challenges for the coming week. The logic behind it can be found here. Want to be involved? It’s easy – just answer three questions in the comments or on your own blog (with a link in the comments here, so that everyone can find them).
After that, throw some thoughts around about other people’s projects, ask questions if you’re so inclined. Be supportive above all.
Then show up again next Sunday when the circle updates next, letting us know how you did on your weekly project and what you’ve got coming down the pipe in the coming week (if you’d like to part of the circle, without subscribing to the rest of the blog, you can sign-up for reminders via email here).
MY CHECK-IN
What am I working on this week?
With five weeks to go, my brain is largely focused on GenreCon logistics and planning out work for the post-GenreCon writing period so I can bounce back fast and get to work. My only writing focus this week is doing some rewrites on Project: Red ahead of meeting my supervisor.
What’s inspiring me this week?
Rewatching Game of Thrones with my partner, and I’m becoming increasingly appreciative of the way the series frames its conflicts. There is almost always a series of scenes early in the season that will be mirrored in the later parts, either playing out exactly the way someone predicted or serving as an inversion of the earlier situation. The set-up and reward is incredibly tight, and something I’m interested in stealing for my own work.
What action do I need to take?
I meant to do an October checkpoint earlier in the week, but time got away from me. I really need to sit down and map out all the important deadlines and commitments in the next month, then figure out what can be done around that. It’s particularly important now, because I get a little fuzzy-headed and distracted in the lead-up to the con and I’ve already jumped on the wrong train at least once and ended up an hour out of my way.
I’ve ended up taking a short, unscheduled break from writing newsletters over the last fourteen days. Regular GenrePunk Ninja transmissions will resume
Like many of you, I have good weeks and bad weeks on the writing front. This week has been rocky, and if
Welcome to GenrePunk Ninja supplemental, where I occasionally post foundational essays written before I launched the GenrePunk Ninja newsletter, especially if they’re
14 Responses
Good to hear all Genre Con plans are coming along Peter. I’m really looking forward to the event.
Here’s my Sunday Circle.
Where do you normally organise hard targets like deadlines, Ree? Do you tend to put them in one place physically, or online?
Also, have you talked about the Wired For Story questions before? Apologies if I’m making you repeat yourself, but would be great to hear more about them!
Hi Kevin, I put my deadlines on my whiteboard &/or on good old sticky notes! I’ve written a little about Wired for Story before I think – to be honest I didn’t love it. It’s quite gimmicky & relies on a fair bit of neuro-babble but what it does have is some great questions to reflect on/interrogate your story. I’d be happy to send you a copy of the questions if you like.
That’d be ace!
(following up comments on last week’s post at the same time, just to make life confusing…)
It’s really interesting to hear you talk about the Game of Thrones conflicts. I’m not saying you should, but if you did write a post on it, I would totally read it~~~
And, of course, good luck with GenreCon!
My Sunday Circle is here.
It’s the best/worst when your brain falls in love with a new idea in the middle of a project, isn’t it? And the world needs more coming-of-age stories for kids/teens at the moment, so looking forward to hearing more about Cobbler’s Peg.
Out of curiosity, what sort of format do you use for graphic novel scripts? (if that’s easily answerable?)
Peter: hope you’re able to find the time for the October checkpoint, particularly before your brain disappears down the GenreCon rabbit hole completely.
I’d be interested in hearing your thoughts about the current season, as well – I really enjoyed it as a viewer as it paid off a lot of long-term character tensions, but I’m not sure how it stands up to more rigorous scrutiny as a stand-alone piece of television.
I’m still back in season 4, so I’ve got a bit of catch-up to do on the current season. There’s a good chance I’ll end up posting about it when I get there, though.
What am I working on this week?
This week is pretty much triaged to get awesome projects that have come in squarely over to the out pile. I’ll be sneaking a little more prep for PAX panels in there where I can, and trying to get tax stuff finished (AHAHAH! STILL OUTSTANDING!)
What’s inspiring me this week?
Early stages on a couple of writing & audio side projects – getting them off the ground feels pretty ace. Particularly one project centered around a series of monologues – I’ve always used writing as a way of carving off pieces of myself I want to get rid of, and without wanting to sound maudlin, there’s a bunch of stupid manpain stuff circling around my head at the moment I want to burn off.
Media-wise, continuing to inch through The Expanse season two when we can find the time, and absolutely loving it.
What action do I really need to take?
I’ve fallen out of some of the regular routines at the moment due to time constraints, and need to get back to consistent practices, particularly around starting the day, and exercise.
Yay for awesome projects! All the best with the side projects, too. Sometimes one just has to exorcise the mental muddle, but recording it and looking back on it can be hugely informative.
Thank you Maggie, and sorry for taking so long to respond! I’ll wait for your Sunday Circle for this week before commenting further! 🙂
Phew! Just under the date-line wire!
@Peter: There’s something about those echoes in fiction that are so incredibly satisfying. I second Sophie–if you blog it, they will read it.
My Sunday Circle is here!
Maggie somehow your link goes to an old blog post of Peter’s instead of your blog.
Ha! Of course it does. XP Thanks for letting me know!
Here’s the proper link: https://maggiedot.wordpress.com/2017/10/01/the-sunday-circle-under-the-wire-2/ Let me know if that doesn’t work! 🙂