When I started writing I fell in love with the feeling of freedom that I had in creating that first story. I loved forming people and stories and knew that I'd found my lifelong passion.
I wish I could hold onto that feeling forever, but as I've grown in my writing I've learned and now the process isn't quite as full of freedom. Creation takes hard work and while most people I know say they want to write a story, it's a precious few who actually sit down and do it.
Writing is something beautiful and creative for me. It is a place I can go to feel good about developing my talents and have a place to share my thoughts and views on the world.
So, every day when I sit in front of the computer and I tell my kids they can watch a little TV or offer incentives to my older children to take care of the little ones so I can have computer time, I know I am investing in something that betters me as a person. I want writing to be a priority in my life so my children can see it's important for parents to have dreams and that something can come of those dreams if you work hard enough.
That said, I haven't been pushing myself very hard this past little while. I hit the ground running and then sort of petered out. But today, TODAY is when I'm going to get back in the game and make some small weekly goals that will lead me to my big monthly goal. (Everyone remembers the monthly goal, right?) My goal for this week is to finish editing ten chapters. I know it will stretch me, but in the long run, I've got to eat this elephant in small pieces!
In honor of setting a smaller, bite-size goal, I thought it would be fun for everyone to set a goal for this week. Just this week. Monday through Friday. Post it in the comments, and if you meet your stated goal by Friday, your name will be included in a drawing for a bundle of ALL of Jordan McCollum's writing guides, including her SECRET never-before-released writing guides. They are an amazing resource that every aspiring writer should have for sure.
Let's do this! What's your smaller bite-size goal?
I'm an award-winning romantic suspense novelist, but in my free time I love to review books and my fave TV shows, as well as pass along great book deals, and eat Canadian chocolate---not necessarily in that order.
14 comments:
A bite sized goal? Hmmm. I'd like to write at least one hour each day on my WIP. Between building my new bookcases I bought Saturday (4 of them from Target) and coordinating our ward's river float down for Saturday afternoon (I'm our committee chairman--heck, I'm the committee!) I think if I'm actually able to eek out that one hour each day, then I've accomplished a great deal toward my total end goal.
Well, since I've just finished the first draft of my short story and sent it off to my beta readers, I think my bite-sized goal for this week will have to be thinking of a new idea for a new story by the end of the week. That's always the hardest part for me, but maybe if I keep working at it, and keep my mind churning, I can become better at generating the ideas and translating them into viable stories.
My goal for the week is 5000 words in one manuscript. No getting distracted by shiny new ideas or old ideas that suddenly demand attention. Okay, so the second part will be a lot harder than the first and edits on completed MS don't count.
My goal is 10k. We'll see if I make it...
Ok. I can do this. I have a picture book class/critique group next week. I'll try to do 2 new pb drafts by Friday...I've got the ideas down. I just need to write.
Sorry I haven't checked in much lately. I've written 12,000 in the past 3 weeks, which is great for me. Now that all the kids are out of school, it's harder to find time to write (e.g., eagle scout project, trip to DMV, potty training.) So my goal is to write for an hour each day.
I completely lost it this weekend and didn't do any writing! Blurg! (It's easier to play Civ V with a baby in my lap than write fiction.)
My bite-sized goal for this week is a page a day. That's a bit of a stretch compared to last week, but I think my average came out to that. I salute you 10K words per week people.
Great idea. I need someone to push me. My goal this week will be to write at least 2 hours a day on my WIP and to stop being indecisive and make a final decision on my cover for my 2nd book.
I am going to edit 5 chapters of a novel I've already finished and also write a short story that is scheduled to go into the next City of the Gods anthology. Those are my writing goals for the week.
I have made a goal to write a chapter a day. (keep in mind my style is short 5-15 page chapters) And get a baby sitter for Saturday and get the flyers done TOMORROW for the authors night on next Monday.
This is great motivation--thanks Julie!
My small, stretchy goal is to write 6,000 words this week and start another round of revising on my other novel. :)
Thanks!
My goal is to write another 3000 words this week. Thanks for the encouragement.
im enjoying the comments please continue it..
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Great idea! I actually just reached a huge goal which was to finish my MS, so now my little goal is to send it out for it's first ever query. wish me luck!
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