Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Writing is Hard But It's Not Impossible

I don't like to feel that I'm shirking my responsibilities, including my blog. But the last couple of weeks have been challenging for me as a writer. Between those sneaky doubts and the stresses of other parts of my life, my writing isn't getting the attention it deserves (whether on  my blog or in my manuscript).  Lydia Sharp of The Sharp Angle says it well in her recent post, Back to Basics: Writing is Hard. I like her conclusion:

 "But if you truly believe you've found your purpose in life, as a storyteller, then you must also believe that no matter what hurdles you encounter, you will prevail."
Lydia Sharp, The Sharp Angle, Back to Basics: Writing is Hard, February 29, 2012

I'm looking forward to March, when I expect to have more energy and enthusiasm for writing. For me, the key is to set some goals. I love crossing completed tasks off my To Do list. I start small, but that usually generates some momentum that builds into something bigger.  So here's what I plan to do in March:

1. Complete one chapter of my novel each week.

And that's all. It definitely seems doable and I'm pretty sure it will morph into more. What are your goals for March?

18 comments:

  1. That's a great goal to have!! One of my goals for the year was to post every Monday, Wednesday and Friday on my blog. My dad told me to set a more realistic goal but I haven't broken my streak yet!

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    1. Good for you, Jess! Those are my posting days too. I love the way blogging gets me thinking about writing and the writing process.

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  2. That's a totally attainable goal. I procrastinate a lot unless I have some kind of deadline.

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    1. I definitely make better use of my time when I have a goal.

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  3. Goals are a great way to get motivated. March is only a day away!

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    1. Yeah, that's scary! No, seriously, I know I can do it.

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  4. I couldn't work without goals, and yours seem very doable!

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  5. I'm in the middle of major polishing/revision for my novel and the blogging has really taken a hit. I'm getting my posts up but not doing a lot of visiting around.

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    1. It can be hard to keep up with it all! I hope your revisions are going well.

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  6. That's a good, useful and achievable goal. I'd just like to finish my first revision pass :-)

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  7. My goals for March... don't get sick again. Focus on my manuscript whenever I can, and even when I can't.

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    1. Good for you, Bonnee. I think it's great to try to keep your story in mind, even if you're not writing.

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  8. I think this is a doable goal for your Andrea. I hope that you can get back on track in March. I know how hard it can be when you're so busy you can't find time for writing.

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    1. Karen, I'm going to make some time anyway. I just need to write!

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  9. My March goal is to have 1/3 of the draft of my WIP done. All best wishes on yours!

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