Are you writing? Working on your current WIP, or trying to decide which of your many stories should be completed this year? Or maybe writing every day is on your 2015 resolutions list. If so, yay for you!
This year I haven’t made a single writing resolution. I had to spend some serious time away from the computer through the fall and end of the year, and it really gave me time to think. Did I want to continue to do this writing thing? The answer was and still is, an unequivocal ‘YES!’
That being the case, with a limited amount of time on the computer, I had to change the way I approached writing and everything associated with it. I used to do a ton of writing related things, lots of social media, and feel really good about them, yet never get actual words on the page. Over and over again I fell into the trap. The deceptive line of thinking that doing anything associated with writing means you’re moving forward. Any successful writer will tell you the words come first. Everything else related to writing is secondary.
So I made a couple small changes in that I don’t do anything until I’ve spent thirty minutes writing. No email, no social media, zip, zero, nada. Also, no social media until evening, and then only if I’m up to it. It proved to be way tougher than I thought. Letting go of social media made me feel disconnected. Some days it still does. Then there’s the changing of a morning routine that’s been years in the making.
But after thirty days, it seems to be working. I’ve got some chapters of a new WIP. And that’s more than I had before. I’m moving up to forty-five minutes next week. Eventually I’d like it to be an hour. We’ll see how it goes. The sense of accomplishment is turning out to be worth the struggle. I’m going to have a new story!
With working, families, small children, we’re all short on time for different reasons; do you have any tricks that help you get words on the page?
I’ve found the same thing happens with me, Sutton. I have to get my writing in first thing in the morning. I take breaks during the day if everything is caught up…but if the guys are home? The writing suffers. But the oldest is out on his own and the youngest has hit the pre-teen sleep-in stage. So even if the guys are home…if I can make myself write as soon as I get up…it’s nice and quiet. Good luck getting those words down!!
omg, Chelle, the oldest is out on his own? Time is flying! It’s nice that youngest is sleeping in. Happy to hear you’re having some quiet time. Same to you, good luck, lady. Nice to hear from you. 🙂
I hope it keeps working for you, Sutton!
I don’t make resolutions though I do make goals as it helps me focus on what I need to do. And I also do new writing in the morning, but I don’t think I could do it without having at least a peek at my email first, Just in case…
Thanks, Nina! I’ve never seen anyone consistently meet their goals like you do. If I can be half as successful, I’ll feel like I’ve really accomplished something. You’ve set a great example for the rest of us. 😉
I love the idea of staying off social media until evening…she says while responding to this post at 7am…LOL!
Good for you, and you are so right, the words should come first. Going to have hang that mantra over my computer to remind me!
It’s tougher than I thought it would be. I get more done on the days that I can do it, but some days I still forget and have to catch myself and sign out. lol.