Every week I’ll post my writing goals, check in with how I’m doing (usually not meeting them if I’m honest), moan about difficult things, share some successes and generally hope for some encouragement. It would be great to hear what you are working on and build a bit of a community of support, accountability and cheerleading to keep us going.
W/C 13th of July. I’m on a really intense schedule for the next three weeks as I have an end of the month deadline and a real mountain to climb. My kids are away for three weeks so that I can finish my book (this is the best present I have ever been given) so I am going to make the most of it. I have to!
My plan is to work on a different chapter each day this week rather than getting stuck towards the beginning of the book for days on end as I have been doing. That should take me from looking at my May chapter today through to November at the end of the week.
What I need to do to each chapter varies quite widely as some are almost there and others have huge chunks missing.
I’m going to give each one a read first thing, make a plan for the day and try and stick to it.
I’m also going to make sure I have a proper lunch break at least a couple of hours outside towards the end of the afternoon and try and read a bit too.
I’d love to feel there are a few others writing with me this week (though for your sakes not with the same intensity I hope!).
What are your plans for the week and how can we help keep you motivated?
Good luck! I won't give myself a schedule as I am on 24/7 childcare and barely get any time. Don't want to send myself crazy. But am rooting for you! Go write that book xx
Hello everyone! sorry I fell off the face of the world but I had to go into the zone to finish the book and have only just emerged. I feel like I learned a lot from these past few weeks though and will be factoring that into my writing process in future - ahem! How are you all getting on? Shall we start setting some weekly goals again?
I am not a natural joiner, but I am determined to try things that feel unnatural. So... here goes.... I am attempting to quiet the thousand things screaming for my attention this week, and meet the following meagre goals:
- set research list for the book
- continue plotting fragments, to be organised for some time in the future when I don't have two children hanging off both of my two legs.
Oh Rebecca! Basically a retreat! How brilliant. I’m going to be trying to do evenings again (I’ve given up trying to juggle it with homeschooling) this week, tackling the extensive list of scenes I need to crack. I’m very much at the ‘get it done’ phase, trying to resist the urge to either bin it all or refine each and every word just yet. Emma Gannon was writing about the process this weekend of wanting constant reassurance from your agent/editor etc and that you can only really find convincing reassurance from yourself. Really resonated with me (bearing in mind my agent has only read the first three chapters as yet!) and so I’m going to give myself the time to really make sure I’m happy with every moment before I send the next batch of words. Here we go....
I was just thinking of you Rebecca and hoped that you got what you wanted and needed out of these last 3 weeks and you are still in one piece! ;)
I’ve managed to do a lot of thinking and a little bit of writing every day, even if some days it is just a few words. This strategy seems to be working for me (for now) I seem to waffle less than if I spent 2 hours trying to write. Of course, this is the luxury of not having a deadline! I hope everyone else has achieved some or part of the goals they set?
That is quite a gift- but also quite overwhelming I would imagine. I have three days (wed, thurs, fri) while my youngest (11) is still in school and so intend to do at least 2 hours each day. Probably reading through what I already have and hoping to get inspired about exactly what it is I’m writing. What I was writing (quite planned and knew where it was going) has morphed entirely in lock down into something far more personal and the focus has shifted. Going to try and read the 50k (ish) words I have then let it sit with me and see what comes up... it’s the bit I enjoy (when it happens) but also feel I have least control over. It’s a bit like witchcraft! Good luck with your writing! (And 3 weeks without the kids. Wow! Enjoy!) x
Amazing to have that child-free time - what a gift! I hope you get what you want out of the week.
This week my goal is to finish the first draft of my proposal. I’m nearly there, but there are a few chapters I still need to flesh out which will need a bit of research. Then hopefully I can edit it next week then send it onto my agent for her thoughts!
W/C 13th of July. I’m on a really intense schedule for the next three weeks as I have an end of the month deadline and a real mountain to climb. My kids are away for three weeks so that I can finish my book (this is the best present I have ever been given) so I am going to make the most of it. I have to!
My plan is to work on a different chapter each day this week rather than getting stuck towards the beginning of the book for days on end as I have been doing. That should take me from looking at my May chapter today through to November at the end of the week.
What I need to do to each chapter varies quite widely as some are almost there and others have huge chunks missing.
I’m going to give each one a read first thing, make a plan for the day and try and stick to it.
I’m also going to make sure I have a proper lunch break at least a couple of hours outside towards the end of the afternoon and try and read a bit too.
I’d love to feel there are a few others writing with me this week (though for your sakes not with the same intensity I hope!).
What are your plans for the week and how can we help keep you motivated?
Good luck! I won't give myself a schedule as I am on 24/7 childcare and barely get any time. Don't want to send myself crazy. But am rooting for you! Go write that book xx
Hello everyone! sorry I fell off the face of the world but I had to go into the zone to finish the book and have only just emerged. I feel like I learned a lot from these past few weeks though and will be factoring that into my writing process in future - ahem! How are you all getting on? Shall we start setting some weekly goals again?
I am not a natural joiner, but I am determined to try things that feel unnatural. So... here goes.... I am attempting to quiet the thousand things screaming for my attention this week, and meet the following meagre goals:
- set research list for the book
- continue plotting fragments, to be organised for some time in the future when I don't have two children hanging off both of my two legs.
Oh Rebecca! Basically a retreat! How brilliant. I’m going to be trying to do evenings again (I’ve given up trying to juggle it with homeschooling) this week, tackling the extensive list of scenes I need to crack. I’m very much at the ‘get it done’ phase, trying to resist the urge to either bin it all or refine each and every word just yet. Emma Gannon was writing about the process this weekend of wanting constant reassurance from your agent/editor etc and that you can only really find convincing reassurance from yourself. Really resonated with me (bearing in mind my agent has only read the first three chapters as yet!) and so I’m going to give myself the time to really make sure I’m happy with every moment before I send the next batch of words. Here we go....
I was just thinking of you Rebecca and hoped that you got what you wanted and needed out of these last 3 weeks and you are still in one piece! ;)
I’ve managed to do a lot of thinking and a little bit of writing every day, even if some days it is just a few words. This strategy seems to be working for me (for now) I seem to waffle less than if I spent 2 hours trying to write. Of course, this is the luxury of not having a deadline! I hope everyone else has achieved some or part of the goals they set?
That is quite a gift- but also quite overwhelming I would imagine. I have three days (wed, thurs, fri) while my youngest (11) is still in school and so intend to do at least 2 hours each day. Probably reading through what I already have and hoping to get inspired about exactly what it is I’m writing. What I was writing (quite planned and knew where it was going) has morphed entirely in lock down into something far more personal and the focus has shifted. Going to try and read the 50k (ish) words I have then let it sit with me and see what comes up... it’s the bit I enjoy (when it happens) but also feel I have least control over. It’s a bit like witchcraft! Good luck with your writing! (And 3 weeks without the kids. Wow! Enjoy!) x
Amazing to have that child-free time - what a gift! I hope you get what you want out of the week.
This week my goal is to finish the first draft of my proposal. I’m nearly there, but there are a few chapters I still need to flesh out which will need a bit of research. Then hopefully I can edit it next week then send it onto my agent for her thoughts!