In January, as part of the #writemotivation project, I'll be blogging every Monday about how things are going with my writing goals. I'm glad to hear that we're looking at keeping #writemotivation going in future months. Though this hasn't been the best month for me, I know that it's a long year and a long career and a so-so month isn't a disaster.
1) Spend time in the first half of January analyzing my first draft of "Adrift" and time in the second half of January planning the second draft. - This isn't happening at this point. I'm going to try to at least start on this before the end of the month, but there will be lots still to do in February.
2) Write 25,000 words of new fiction including at least one new short story. - This was the goal I was least confident in before the month began. Apparently with good reason. Barring a big change in the next week, I'm going to fall about 20% short of this goal. On the one hand, that's sort of frustrating. On the other hand, it puts me rather close to my overall "pace" for wanting to write 250,000 words this year. So, while this will almost certainly get chalked up as a "miss", I don't feel too bad about this one.
3) Keep all my writing routines -- Seinfeld Chain, blogging schedule, etc. - This is still going well. If I've learned one thing in the last six months it's that having a routine keeps me moving forward.
4) On 1/31, have one non-time-sensitive blog post written and ready for future use on a day when I'm not able to post something "new." - I just need to spend an hour or so one night soon finishing this up so I can call it "done."
5) Submit one or more short stories for the first time this month. - Done. So I've completed the entire "Write 1/Sub 1" goal for the month.
I'm going to be thinking about February goals soon. I hope that my #writemotivation friends and other writing friends are doing well with their January goals and will be interested to hear about your goals for next month!
You're doing darn good. I completed my write 1/sub 1 for this month too. It's the only thing I've managed to do so far except keep up with my blogging.
ReplyDeleteFabulous goals, sir. I've drafted this month's W1S1, and I hope to have it out by the end of the week. I've also set the goal of 1K/Day in my novel WiP. Keep on keepin' on!
ReplyDeleteYou're doing really well, even if not quite hitting the spot on everything you wanted to.
ReplyDeleteYou're so right though - this isn't something that can be hurried. One marginally off month isn't going to stop your goals.
Here's to more #writemotivation in the coming months!
Michael, I'm thoroughly impressed with the amount of writing your stacking up. You're doing writerly things, like blogging, and getting in some serious writing time. That's awesome.
ReplyDeleteKeep up the good work. More months of accomplishment to come.
Thanks, everyone and good work to all of you as well!
ReplyDeleteI'm definitely not *too* down about how the month has gone. I've learned some things and made some good progress despite not hitting all the marks I set out for myself.
Christine and Milo, good luck with your W1/S1 submissions.
Even if you haven't accomplished ALL your goals, you are trying and that's the most important part. Keeping on track will get you to your goal, maybe a bit more slowly, but you will prevail! Thanks for the support!
ReplyDeleteGreat progress! Good for you and thanks for sharing - it helps spread the motivation.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jamie and Nicole!
ReplyDeleteYou've done a LOT more writing than I have this month, so I say you're doing great. Best of luck with the submission!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jocelyn! I really think the "problem" with this month was over-optimism in goal-setting.
ReplyDeleteAfter writing 60,000+ words in November, 25,000 words didn't sound that hard. But when every few thousand words means coming up with a whole new world/character/story, etc. I racked up the words a lot more slowly.
So, a good lesson learned.