Thanks to our host Alex Cavanaugh and this month's co-hosts: Olga Godim, Chemist Ken, Renee Scattergood, and Tamara Narayan!
The optional question of the month is: When your writing life is a bit cloudy or filled with rain, what do you do to dig down and keep on writing?
Every Saturday there is a 95% chance of writing. That number clouds the horizon drastically during the week due to the day job. Setting a word count goal helps. I try for 500 words per day, then make up the shortage on the weekend.
Most importantly:
- I give myself permission to write a bad first draft, otherwise, no words would be written. Good writing comes with editing.
- I don't beat myself up over the word count shortfall because that's a given.
- I remind myself that I'm doing what I can. I'm learning to be kinder to myself.
What's your go-to strategy to keep on writing?
I admire the fact that you try to write during the week even while working. That's focus :-)
ReplyDeleteCheers - Ellen | http://thecynicalsailor.blogspot.com/
I try to at least do something, even if it's just thinking and plotting. Just doing what I can. Currently I've been working on the same paragraph all week. LOL. But it's a setting paragraph that I want to get right.
DeleteFive hundred is reasonable during the week. With the extra on Saturday, that could be four to five thousand every week.
ReplyDeleteI wish I could do 5K per week! I'm happy if I do 2500. :)
DeleteI really like your 500 word goal and how you don't beat yourself up when you don't make it. What a great way to stay productive.
ReplyDeleteThis writing life is long term. I'm anxious to get a lot done, but I want to enjoy the ride too. But a positive mojo works way better than a negative one ;)
DeleteThat last one is so important. I still work on being kinder to myself. I'm not a very good boss to myself!
ReplyDeleteI know! Why can't we be as good to ourselves as we are to other people? We deserve it!
DeleteI like your strategy.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Juneta. I'm definitely not making my goal this week. But I have a story in my heart and it's making me feel pretty good!
DeleteI shoot for 500 words a day too and am totally down with writing crap. Someone once told me writing was a marathon, not a race...pace myself. I try to do that.
ReplyDeleteHaha! Writing crap is the only way. Then you have something to edit and make pretty ;)
DeleteIt's great to have targets and know we won't always hit the ones we set.
ReplyDeleteThe point is to have a goal so you're at least moving forward. Then we become better writers too, without even realizing it.
DeleteIt's that giving permission part that I often stumble on. I hate reading my crappy drafts, so I'm always thinking they should be fixed right away. What if I die and someone reads this stuff? My obit then becomes: "She thought she was a writer."
ReplyDeleteLOL, Lee. I have the same thoughts! I'd never want anyone to read my first drafts.
DeleteSince weekends are when I pull back a little on DLP stuff (my husband says I am the worst boss ever), that might be a good time for me to schedule some of my own writing.
ReplyDeleteYou have to put parameters on work. I'd say you have your priorities straight.
DeleteI promise both my critique groups that I will bring something every month. That's enough pressure to keep me writing even when I don't feel like it.
ReplyDeleteI'd be the same way, Ken!
DeleteYou know, when I have a hard and fast deadline, I do give myself a daily word count goal, but when I don't I just try to add words. Lately, this has been working. My BIG WIP went from 20K to 45K between February and now, and that may not be a ton, but when you're living off NO sleep (because my baby still wakes up three times a night), and you're home schooling full time, I'd say that's pretty epic. Basically, I'm a believer that persisting over time brings success. Here's to taking steps every day!
ReplyDeleteI'd say you've done really well on the word count, Crystal! Good for you for even finding the time to write.
DeleteIt took me a long time to give myself permission to write a bad draft. It was liberating and allowed me to let my creative side take over.
ReplyDeleteIt took me a long time too, Maria. But I'm learning! I just hope no one ever sees my first drafts! LOL.
DeleteI am finally giving myself over to "the first draft is just me telling myself the story." So much more would get written if we didn't feel the need to make every 500 words perfect before moving on.
ReplyDeleteThat being kind to ourselves is the tough one!
ReplyDeleteI improved my writing speed by giving myself that permission to write a crappy first draft.
ReplyDeleteRe: I'm learning to be kinder to myself.
ReplyDeleteHoly Guacamole! I am very slowly getting better at being kinder to myself.
That's a really good way to approach writing. I need to get back to writing more regularly (either by word count or time spent).
ReplyDeleteA brief sidenote: I sent you an email about your UR stories and the upcoming collection of Elements of Untethered Realms. Let me know if you didn't get the email.
As Stephen King said, ‘Write with the door closed, and re-write with it open’. Something like that, anyway. It doesn’t matter how bad that first draft might be, at least it’s written.
ReplyDeleteit is great job!
ReplyDeleteSatta king