How are you doing? Specifically on your writing goals? Have you made any? Or considered sharing your story (even in a different format such as blogging, vlogging, on social?)
I’m like a little child playing in the backyard from morning to dusk and doesn’t want to come inside for dinner. I’m enjoying writing, crafting, and reading, assimilating myself into the world of storytelling that it feels like playing, more than working on goals. This play is fueling my motivation. So, since I asked this blogging community to serve as accountability, here’s my progress (or “playing”) report:
Love At the Mayo: Write or edit a minimum of two hours/day:
- January 6th – 16th, I worked on manuscript minimum two hours.
- January 17th, I journaled for an hour instead of working on manuscript.
- January 18th & today: I worked on manuscript minimum two hours. By Thursday, the 19th, I’ll start reading through the printed manuscript to prepare for beta readers.
Next deadline: Give to beta readers on February 1, 2021. (Pray for me! I’m overcoming perfectionism in editing. I need to pry my hands off the manuscript and send it to beta readers.)
Crafting Practice: Work on crafting two hours a day/two times a week.
- January 6th & 8th: Two hours of crafting, including writing for an hour each time.
- January 13th & 15th: Two hours of crafting, including writing for an hour each time.
Journaling every night for 6 days a week:
- Haven’t kept track, but managed to journal at least 5 days a week for two weeks. Getting addictive. Some days, I journal during the day when something’s strong on my mind, a helpful habit for me, an internal processor.
Read fiction at least five to six days a week.
- January 6th – 18th: I’m either reading an ebook, listening to a novel on Audible or YouTube, reading a physical book six to seven days a week. (Sorry, I hadn’t kept track like I told myself to.)
Discoveries:
- Improve tracking progress. I only used Strides app for one habit, so I just input two more: reading fiction daily and journaling daily. Unfortunately, if I add more than three goals, I have to pay a monthly fee. For now, not worth it. I’ll track my crafting progress on a spreadsheet. Yea, it might be easier to keep all the habits in one location, so will see how I do.
- Report to accountability partner regularly. I’m reporting here but will report my progress on a daily basis. At least, record daily and email to accountability partners once a week. (Need to reach out to one to let them know. LOL!)
- Write the reward in a journal or notebook. Make sure the reward is visible and print picture representing the reward and set it near my laptop. (If I meet my writing, crafting, and reading goals, I’ll attend a virtual or in-person writer’s conference.)
Tips from prolific authors:
- Record ideas, thoughts, observations in a notebook you carry. (Neil Gaiman)
- Read poetry. (Walter Mosley)
- Think of yourself as a photographer with a camera and looking through the lens. The camera is your writing. (Joyce Carol Oats)
- Focus on critical characters. If many characters in your book, ask about each character, “Why are they there? What is that person doing?” Consider the characters as actors in a play you have to pay. Eliminate any not working hard or at all.
- (Joyce Carol Oats)
Any tips, discoveries, or improved progress? Please share in Comments. Thank you.
Featured Photo by Karl Fredrickson on Unsplash