Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Writemotivation May

This month I joined a group of other writers in something like a writer’s support group. The intention is to set goals for the month of May, and do our damnedest to meet those goals. Sort of an AA group for writers.

So, with that in mind: “Hello, my name is Adam, and I am a shameless, weak, feeble-willed, indolent procrastinator.” Whew! At least that’s out in the open. I hate speaking in front of people.

I’m hoping this works in two ways:

    A.) To actually set some concrete writing goals for the month.
    B.) To let other people know about those goals.

Those necessarily have to work together. I set myself goals all the time, and often fail to reach them. But whose problem is that? Mine. Because no one else knows about them. And though I feel bad about not reaching personal goals – very guilty, in fact – it doesn’t always give me the extra motivation I need. So I’m thinking perhaps the fact that other people know about my goals gives me some incentive to meet them. Hey, every little bit helps.

At the very least, it helps to know that I’m not the only easily-distracted, restless, attention-deficient writer on the planet. In fact, I’m beginning to think that’s the most common kind.

My goals for May were thus:

    1.) Write 1000 words on my WIP on each devoted “writing day”. Minimum of three days per week. (Kind of vague, huh? My writing schedule is at the mercy of my changing work schedule.)

    2.) Write a minimum of one blog post per week updating my #writemotivation status and / or containing a book review. (And I have so many reviews just waiting to be written!)

This constitutes my second blog post of the month. So I’m at least meeting that commitment, if only at a minimum level.

The other? Lagging a bit behind so far. I managed about 1,100 words for the week on my WIP novel, and started a new story, on which I’ve completed around 1,750 words. I haven’t a clue where the story is going yet. But it’ll get there eventually. Wherever there is.

For those mathematically-challenged readers, that’s a mere 2,850 words for the first week of May. Thank God I don’t have to make a living at this stuff. Starvation and exposure would have set in a long time back.

I hope all of my fellow #writemotivation writers are plugging along a bit more gainfully. Like my mysteriously meandering new story, we’ll get there eventually.

P.S. - The wonderful image above is from writer/artist Richard Krzemien. Check out his website for more great comics.

7 comments:

  1. Hey, every step forward is progress. I sometimes only write three hundred words in a day, but I'll take them. But, uh, now that you've put your goals out there, we'll be watching. :))

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  2. I'm way behind on my goals, so you're doing good! :D I'm hoping to get some major writing done tomorrow afternoon *crosses fingers*

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  3. Always remember my 1st draft golden rule!

    0ne word is PROGRESSION.
    Zero words is STAGNATION.
    And deleting words is REGRESSION.

    So, even if you don’t make your exact writing goal, you’ve already knocked it out of the ball park with writing one word!!

    Jamie Dement (LadyJai)
    Http://writebackwards.we3dements.com

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  4. Those are good goals, Adam. My three word kick up the arse - for myself - is: 'Just do it'

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  5. Congrats on your progress, and your story that I just read at Flash Fiction Online. I'm trying to revise a bit every single day for 100 Days - a friend of mine said I should have started a "challenge" or blog hop or something, but the reality is, I'm just using my blog and my blog commenters as a way to keep myself moving forward on my challenge - maybe next time I'll be cool and join a writemotivation group or something.

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  6. Thanks for all of the encouragement, folks! Best of luck to all of you on YOUR goals.

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  7. aren't we all procrastinators? i think that's one reason this group is so helpful. holding ourselves accountable helps us make some kid of progress. i know it helps me. good work so far! keep it up!

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