Progress!

The writing schedule may be working out this time around. So far I’ve been able to write each morning while drinking my coffee. My mini goal is to just do it for 10 minutes a day at the minimum, working upward from there.

So far so good! Next up: a continuation and a move toward a compilation.

On Goals and not meeting them

Most of the time I do an excellent job at setting and reaching goals, except when it has to do with writing and generally encouraging my creative side.

This weekend, I had a nice chat with one of my closest friends, RockstarCarlene, about my writing schedule, or lack thereof. She offered to be my “tough love” to help me reach my writing & submitting goals for the year. The main writing goal for 2010 is to submit at least 6 times this year. It’s a very, very modest & reachable goal so long as I actually do it. Having her remind me of the self-inflicted deadlines will also work wonders, this I’m sure.

Here’s how one of my conversations with Carlene might go (note: this conversation is entirely made up, but you get the jist.)

Carlene: What have you been doing lately?

Me: Not much of anything.

Carlene: Well stop it.

Carlene is a fantastic motivator. Her energy for life and her ability to conquer most situations is admirable. Plus, she’s a fantastic photographer and relishes in helping people put their best face forward whether it be via head shots, business cards, or website development. And Oh, she also sings, which is nice on those occasions when she randomly breaks into song.

Day 2, Erum…. Day 1

Yesterday’s beginning didn’t work out so well, unless you count thinking about it all day, then doing nothing by the end of things.

The main problem with starting big projects on days that have other meanings (i.e. Anniversary, Birthday) is that there’s less room for the regular activities, let alone for a “new” one.

That being said – I’ve finally started the project and the rules I’ve set for myself are as follows.

1. Write daily. There will be no missed days on account of sickness or holidays. I will, however, refrain from an all-or-nothing approach – after all: I’m only human.
2. Even if I am having no problems getting started or finding content, I will do at least 1 writing exercise from the various books I’ve accumulated over the years.
3. From now through November 2010, I will submit my work to at least 6 different places. Though this number is low, I’ve found it’s more motivating to accomplish smaller goals than have a looming large one sucking up all the motivation. Goals are fluid – once I meet this one early in the year, I’ll change it and keep going. The key right now is to get started.

Three rules. Three very simple guidelines. How will I measure? The same way I always have – I’ll put it all in a black binder and see what comes of it on my 28th birthday.

The 1 Year Project Begins

The truth: I haven’t been writing, though I’ve wanted to.

The solution: The 1 year project.

I will write daily for the next year & keep all the writings in a separate folder. The daily topics will come from A Writers Book of Days. I’ve attempted this before, but not with this sort of time frame in mind. I will spend a minimum of 30 minutes each day working on the exercises. The hope is that I will propel myself back into the swing of the writing life and will have something more than the exercises to show for it at the end.

I crave structure, and I’ve been denying myself this aspect of well-being in order to focus on a few other things.

It’s time to begin again.

Progress report

I missed last night’s writing session and there’s really no good excuse. So far my longest writing streak has been 4 days since I started to track it. I begin the count over as a result of last night.

I’ve been using A Writers Book of Days: A Spirited Companion and Lively Muse for the Writing Life by Judy Reeves for almost 10 years now, it seems. The daily writing prompts have really helped give me a springboard to start off a writing session on those days when I am at a loss for what to write. Lately, though, I’ve wanted more instruction and different writing exercises to help stir my mind. Any suggestions?

Still in progress

One of the three goals I set for myself this year was to have a definite writing schedule by the middle of the year and mesaurable progress by the end of the year. It is already mid-June and I don’t yet have the schedule. It feels like the months have been speeding by, however, I suppose I hadn’t really tried hard enough to make this goal a reality.

Last night I made the attempt to write something — it was a list of sorts, but I did make a point to think creatively while writing it. I am occasionally looking for the triggers that help me to write, I know I have them, I just need to figure out what they are so I can apply them during my writing times. Listed below are a few possible triggers, though they aren’t “sure things” when it comes to setting the mood.

1. mellow music that I haven’t heard / don’t know the lyrics or melody to {usually / sometimes}
2. incense {sometimes / rarely}
3. coffee or tea {sometimes / rarely}
4. when the house is quiet {occasionally / sometimes}
5. a new location (i.e. diner, library, park, outside, not-at-home, etc.) {occasionally / sometimes}

In order to help reach my writing schedule goal, last month I joined a writers group at my local library. As a poet, I was a bit disappointed that the focus of this group is toward the fiction writer. I’m still debating whether or not to continue with it, since I’m not sure how much the content will apply to me. For now, I am going to think of the group as incentive to write more frequently. I can take the exercises provided and make them work for me.

Consideration due

Considering again continuing on with my education – leaning toward a low residency MFA, possibly. At this point it depends on cost plus the impact it would ultimately have on my life – current and future.

The question I must first ask myself: Do I explore what makes me happy, or go with what could make me money?

Goal(s) for October

• continue the chronological work – polish the “done ones”
• Submit something somewhere