I’m feeling on the ball this morning.
I’ve gotten a lot done around the house including two big loads of laundry (I’m still putting back the pieces from last weekend!) and cleaning. I also wrote 1,000 words for the book. I was talking to my friend, Rea, on the phone yesterday afternoon, who is also a writer and she gave me the advice of dedicating myself to writing 1,000 words a day. They could be great, they could be crap…but every day I WILL write 1,000 words. That way I feel like I’m accomplishing something and have more to work with.
I need 50,000 words by April 1st so I figure this is as good of a start as any. I’m feeling extra inspired today though so I might write another 1,000 this afternoon! 😉
I snacked on an orange from Hardy’s tree mid morning and then made this huge salad for lunch—
I used a bunch of spinach, a morningstar farms veggie burger, ~1/4 c black beans, 2 scrambled egg whites, ~1/4 of an avocado, hummus, hot sauce and a few leftover pieces of squash.
It was super filling!
***
Getting more work done this afternoon (plus some exercise thrown in there!) and then heading to a Kendall-Jackson holiday party this evening and then to a friend’s house to watch the finale of Top Chef!
Have a great day!
lindsay
December 9, 2009 at 12:34 pmSounds like you have a great evening planned 🙂
Good goal to write 1,000 words every day. 50,000 is a lot of words (!!) but just a few every day adds up.
Kristi
December 9, 2009 at 12:34 pmMmmm, this salad looks great. I was just wondering what to have for lunch! Have fun at the party tonight and take lots of pictures for us,
xo K
skinnyrunner
December 9, 2009 at 12:38 pmwow, 50k words is mind boggling, but when you break it down into mini goals, im sure you will do it and it will be great!
mags
December 9, 2009 at 12:46 pmi have never thought to put egg whites in a salad… looks yummy!! not that i expect you to tell us, but do you already know the winner of top chef from your new friends?! so excited for the finale!!
Karla
December 9, 2009 at 1:02 pm1,000 words per day seems like a manageable goal. I should try this for next semester’s round of papers!
Allie (Live Laugh Eat)
December 9, 2009 at 1:09 pm1000=~ 2 college admissions essays right? Not too bad. Although in 1 day, every day is impressive. You writer you!!
Jessica @ How Sweet It Is
December 9, 2009 at 1:10 pmI think 1000 words/day is a great goal!
Estela @ Weekly Bite
December 9, 2009 at 1:11 pmCongrats on 1000 words!
Can’t wait for the Top Chef finale!
Lisa (bakebikeblog)
December 9, 2009 at 1:11 pmCongrats on the writing – I think the 1000 word a day limit is a great aim!
ooh and your lunch looks so tasty!
Evan Thomas
December 9, 2009 at 1:24 pmGetting work done on papers feels sooo good. I just handed one of my finals in!
Meg
December 9, 2009 at 1:35 pmHi, Jenna:
I’m fairly new to your blog and just wanted to tell you how much I enjoy it! Congratulations on your book deal as well. How exciting!
I’m so jealous you know Kevin too. 🙂 My husband and I are devoted Top Chef viewers, and I’m pulling for him to win. Hope he does!
Shannon (The Daily Balance)
December 9, 2009 at 1:35 pmgreat goal, lady — you’ll rock it, I’m sure!!
Love the avocado addition to the salad!
Jenny
December 9, 2009 at 1:38 pmwho do you think is going to win?! I’m hoping Kevin … as I’m sure you may be too!
Diana @ frontyardfoodie
December 9, 2009 at 1:42 pmAwesome goal. I love writing and 1,000 words a day seems very reasonable. Just remember, if you do 2,000 one day you’re ahead! Don’t let it allow you to slack the next day!
Your book is going to be amazing. I just know it!
katey
December 9, 2009 at 1:49 pmcongrats on writing the first of your book!!!
lz
December 9, 2009 at 1:50 pmJenna, that is a fantastic plan! We accomplish large tasks with so much more ease if we break them up into smaller chunks. I’m so excited for your book; I’m sure it will be very down-to-earth and engaging!
VeggieGirl
December 9, 2009 at 1:55 pmYou can do it!! I need to do the same with my screenplay – eeeeek!
haya
December 9, 2009 at 1:56 pmgood job!!
no top chef spoilers!!! i won’t be able to watch it until tomorrow, probably. soooo excited. (sad that jen didn’t make the finals but definitely rooting for kevin)
ShutupandRun
December 9, 2009 at 2:00 pmYay, here’s to 1,000 words per day. Good luck.
Heather @ Health, Happiness, and Hope
December 9, 2009 at 2:01 pmI just love days when I truly feel productive! Sounds like you have an excellent plan for the book! 🙂
Mama Pea
December 9, 2009 at 2:04 pmGO KEVIN!!! I got all a twitter when I saw he was now following me on Twitter. I didn’t even mean to make that pun. Geez…lame!
I think your 1,000 words a day goal is FANTASTIC! Blog posts don’t count on that word total though 🙂
Laura Georgina
December 9, 2009 at 2:06 pmThat’s a great writing tip. I had to use a similar one when I was writing my master’s and had the WORST writer’s block–I committed to writing two pages a day and, before I knew it, I was writing five to ten a day. Setting the goal really helped. Also, by looking at it as having “more to work with”, a lot of the pressure will be off your shoulders. Keep up the good work!
Marsha
December 9, 2009 at 2:06 pmJenna, I just HAVE to know– there are so many mysterious “friend” references– a new boy in your life? Fill us in!! 🙂
rungirlrunn
December 9, 2009 at 2:19 pmSounds like a great goal, good work!!
Megan (The Runner's Kitchen)
December 9, 2009 at 2:24 pmI love the hot sauce and hummus as dressing! Such a great combo.I also like to add sunflower seeds and cottage cheese to my salads. Sounds weird, but so good!
Jamie
December 9, 2009 at 2:30 pmHi Jenna!
One book that I have heard is really good at getting the creative juices flowing is called “The Artists Way” by Julia Cameron. It talks about writing daily “Morning Pages” and I just remembered it because of the 1,000 words goal. I have read parts of it and it is really interesting. Might be worth checking out!
Jamie
Sam (Merit to the Carrot)
December 9, 2009 at 2:35 pmI always work better with specific goals, and yours seems very motivating! Go, Jenna, Go!
Beautiful salad 🙂
Heather
December 9, 2009 at 2:52 pmI can’t wait for the Top Chef finale!! To bad I don’t have Bravo and have to wait until it’s on line. Hope you don’t give it away!
Jenna
December 9, 2009 at 3:12 pmMini goals always make the larger goal seem way more attainable!
Your salad looks delicious. Have fun tonight!
Jolene (www.everydayfoodie.ca)
December 9, 2009 at 3:37 pmI like that you are dedicating yourself to 1000 words – that is a great idea.
I have never had hot sauce on a salad, but it looks good!
serena
December 9, 2009 at 3:58 pm1000 words is a very doable goal. There is a website called nanowrimo.com that has a contest every November to write a 50,000 word novel in a month! *pats my own back* I did 50,030 words in 30 days. You can soooooooo do this. Can’t wait to read it. ~ Serena
candice
December 9, 2009 at 4:04 pmGood luck with your writing! You’re right about just chugging along, no matter what the quality of the writing is. It’s the same way with homework for me—if I get a lot of small assignments completed, I feel better than if I had gotten one huge one done. 😕
Hillary @ Nutrition Nut on the Run
December 9, 2009 at 4:13 pmYou go girl, keep on writing. I’m impressed. That’s basically a short essay. Lunch looks fabuloso. Have fun tonight : )
Jenna
December 9, 2009 at 4:37 pmthat is a great idea! salad looks yummy!
have fun tonight at the party at watching top chef 😉
jenna
MMiller
December 9, 2009 at 4:40 pmKeep up on the 1,000 words a minute! You will be done in no time! Can’t wait for the book! Glad you are having a productive day! Enjoy the party and relax and watch Top Chef! Rooting for Kevin here too!
Erin @ Big Girl Eats
December 9, 2009 at 4:42 pmI like the thousand words a day idea. Just like anything else, it takes baby steps to get there! You’ll do great!
Chelsea (Chelsea's Chew and Run Fun)
December 9, 2009 at 4:45 pmGood luck with the writing, Jenna! (Now you can “say” a 1,000 words a day *nudge, wink*)
That salad looks gorgeous! So fresh looking it’s practically alive. And a hand picked orange for a snack? Boy do I miss CA….
Erin
December 9, 2009 at 4:52 pmMaking a daily deadline is a great idea. It keeps you focused with an attainable goal every day. 😀
Light Delight with TouTou
December 9, 2009 at 4:55 pmHey Good luck with the writing! Guess its much easier to set up a goal every day with 1000 words 😀
the salad looks delish, love that avocados 😀
legalstyle
December 9, 2009 at 5:04 pmSounds like a beautiful evening! How lucky are we, chez panisse one night and the KJ christmas party the next? OMG. Honestly. WANT YOUR LIFE.
So happy for you, Jenna! Seriously!
xo
amanda
December 9, 2009 at 5:04 pmThat is great to have that goal everyday…should make it easier and easier to write. Good luck to ya!
Carolyn
December 9, 2009 at 5:16 pmCongrats on your 1000 words!! You’ll be done before you know it.
Sarah (Oc2Seattle)
December 9, 2009 at 6:24 pmI really like the 1000 words idea. That is a great system. Good luck!
Meghan@traveleatlove
December 9, 2009 at 6:29 pmLove how you have hot sauce as salad dressing, its the best isn’t it?! Writing the first draft is the hardest part, so get it out there and there will be plenty of room/time for tweaks!
Meghan@traveleatlove
December 9, 2009 at 6:29 pmLove how you have hot sauce as salad dressing, its the best isn’t it?! Writing the first draft is the hardest part, so get it out there and there will be plenty of room/time for tweaks!
Madelin @ What is for Breakfast?
December 9, 2009 at 7:53 pmWell done on the words! That is awesme! Your salad looks good, had a salad today for lunch but yours looks better. Thinking of trying some Kendall-Jackson wine tonight!!
Kara (Kara's Marathon)
December 9, 2009 at 8:15 pmBOO! I’m so disappointed in the TC finale 🙁 I want a recount — Team Kevin!!
Joelle (The Pancake Girl))
December 9, 2009 at 8:22 pm1000 words? Psssh, you can totally handle that. Have a great night!
Liz
December 9, 2009 at 9:24 pmI can’t imagine the feat of writing a book, but if anyone can do it-You can girl! It’ll be flying of shelves, I have no doubt. What do you do when you hit a writers block?
Suzanne de Cornelia
December 9, 2009 at 9:25 pmThat salad looks great. I had a huge spinach salad today, too. Love spinach.
1,000 words is totally doable for you judging by your True Slant articles that have a very cohesive/consistent flow/organization and an established natural voice. And will give you peace of mind…re the deadline. I wrote (4) 500 words articles yesterday and have been saying for two years I need to outline. I resist that and think by not doing it I ultimately waste a lot of time
Katy @ These Beautiful Feet
December 9, 2009 at 11:06 pmI love the idea of working a good amount each day, working towards an attainable goal to help you feel more productive. I usually procrastinate so setting strong goals that way should help you to keep going and get the job done efficiently! 🙂
christie, honoring health
December 10, 2009 at 2:50 amGood job on the 1000 words!
That salad looks great and the photos are really pretty!
eatmovelove
December 10, 2009 at 5:11 amGoals are GOOD!! Love your enthusiasm.
Sarah @ See Sarah Eat
December 10, 2009 at 6:08 amThat is a great idea. Good luck on your writing today!
Anne Marie@New Weigh of Life
December 10, 2009 at 6:24 amGreat job on the 1,000 words! Good luck writing!
Katie
December 10, 2009 at 7:12 amWow, a 1,000 words a day! I should take up this strategy with my master’s thesis. I’d probably have to edit about 500 of the words out after I reread it though. Good luck with your book 🙂
KatieTX
December 10, 2009 at 8:51 amTop chef was so good! Minus the fact Kevin had a bad day…I definitely cried…haha
Morgan @ Life After Bagels
December 10, 2009 at 9:30 am1000 words a day seems like a lot, but much smaller than 50 000, good advice your friend gave you!
Rachel @ Shedding It
December 10, 2009 at 10:11 am1000 words a day is a good goal! Sometimes when I need to hit a word count, I keep in mind that I talk about 1000 words in one short convo with a friend, and that what I’m writing is really just like talking to a friend!!
dragonfly180
December 10, 2009 at 6:23 pmthe 1,000 words per day is a really good goal. good luck with getting that much out each day. if i could write 500 words a day, i’d be doing good! but alas, the regular job has me busy, busy, busy. :o)