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The Return…

February 26, 2012

Well, here I am! I’m back! So sound the trumpets and let the confetti fall from the sky and get ready to cut the cake, baby…!

What? What do you mean there’s no cake?!

It’s funny how in an author’s life there are big stops and starts and large interior, seismic moments that no one has a clue about but you. Writing is so intensely personal.

I’m returning to my almost-finished novel and in my mind the red carpet should be rolled out and I should be handed a glass of Champagne…

I had to step away from writing for a while, primarily due to work. In my day job I’m a teacher. I get to teach fun things like reading and writing and a lot of my creative energy goes into making that material accessible and interesting.

My novel, which is my own, special, highly personal creative project, suffered from a serous lack of attention.

I thinks it’s mad at me.

I’m going to have to approach it gently, give its lots of praise, as we slowly get reacquainted. What a pretty little novel you are! Such a good novel! We’ll get you all polished up, patch up all the plot holes, get you ready for the grand finale…isn’t that right, sweetums?

I want to get back into The Writing Life!

Then maybe we can have some cake?!

Posted in Goal Setting, Procrastination, The Writing Life | 3 Comments »

Setting Writing Goals…Again…

June 17, 2011

Well, there you have it. I wanted my novel finished by June 1st, 2011 and it didn’t happen. I wrote like a mad woman during the times I could carve out for writing in the month of May, but it wasn’t fast enough. I wasn’t able to shout out over Twitter that I’d met my #writegoal, as I’d hoped.

Sniff. Moan.

Yeah, I feel guilty. I probably should have stayed up all night or gotten up at 4 am every morning to give myself consistent writing time. Unfortunately, I’m one of those people who needs regular meals & 6 to 8 hours of sleep. I’m a mom and a teacher and I couldn’t show up in those roles with bags under my eyes, mumbling about regency rakes and onomatopoeia. I’m trying to strike a balance here…

Sometimes I can make time for writing, and other times I can’t! (Um…and the nice weather of late isn’t helping, encouraging all kinds of outside family fun!)

I did, however, make it from ‘the middle’ of my novel into ‘the beginning of the end’–round of applause please. Last count, I had 12 scenes left to write…(trouble is, I keep adding scenes in! The stepping stones I need to skip across to the finish line keep growing in number like some fantastical dreamscape!).

I’ve also beat that whole ‘perfectionist’ tendency, not letting myself go back to revise or rewrite, just writing it down, just getting it down and done…

So I did make progress, more than I’ve made in any other year and in any other month. And for that I think I deserve to celebrate! (Raise a glass, if you please! Oh, and pass the cherry cheesecake!)

As to my writing goal…I’ve set another one. BY THE END OF THE SUMMER!

So, if you’d kindly keep your glasses raised, I’d like to make a toast: here’s to the endless writing pursuit, here’s to not giving up, here’s to getting back on the horse after falling off it, here’s to setting another writing goal, here’s to having *only* 12-ish scenes left…and here’s to the end of the summer!

CHEERS!

PS. Have you set writing goals? And met them….or not? I’d love to hear about your experiences! Leave a comment below!

Posted in Goal Setting, Mom/Writer | 3 Comments »

‘Write’ Across the Finish Line…

April 23, 2011

I gave myself a deadline of having my first draft finished by the time I turn 40–June 1st. That’s about one month away.

ONE MONTH!

So–I have to make this blog entry short. No time to dilly dally or ramble on. I’ve got work to do!

BUT I did want to drop by here and let everyone know that I got over my little crisis (see my Tweets). A few days I ago I made the mistake of going back over my novel, re-reading parts–and I stumbled across (or fell into) numeorus pot holes…I mean PLOT holes. Naturally, I was horrified. I HAVE TO FIX THESE RIGHT NOW OR I CAN”T GO ON! I thought. A few days of angst ensued. Several helpful folks on Twitter gave me their reccomendations. The general consensus seemed to be to go on. Move on. Unless they are so horrible, so huge, the wholes story falls to pieces, don’t worry about them. Leave em for later.

So I’m going to.

I’m usually a very deliberate writer. I like to lay each scene down, tweak it as necessary so it fits fine, then move on to the next one.

But I don’t have time for that now. I’m going to pretend May is my #nanowrimo. I’m going to finish it in one month, writing, writing, writing, just seeing where the writing goes, just getting it done. I don’t care if it takes a strange turn, and all of a sudden my Regency heroine is an alien and she time travels with Brad Pitt to the 1930′s and has a shoot out with a gangster and dies in Brad’s arms quoting Latin.

Personally. I don’t think that ending is going to happen–I trust my vision–but if it does…I will fix it all later. LATER. Once its done.

So I’m settling into my cozy chair (see comic above) with my laptop and my cup of tea and in those times when I am not being a mom, or running/exercising (my other goal), or being a teacher, I am going to be writing my ass off, ‘write’ across the finish line.

“Get the serum to Nome. Get the Conestoga wagon to the Oregon Trail. Get the first version of your project done from A to Z as fast as you can. Don’t stop. Don’t look down. Don’t think.” From Do the Work by Stephen Pressfield.

Posted in Goal Setting, The Writing Life | 7 Comments »

Daily Writing Goals: Why Are They So (Bleeping) Difficult?

June 18, 2010

I have great admiration for all you writers out there who set daily write goals…and meet them.

Actually, by ‘admiration’ I mean ‘jealous’. Yes, I am jealous of you! You are making your #writegoals happen…while its taking me 10 years…and counting…to finish my novel…

It’s not for lack of trying. I have set daily writing goals in the past, but it’s never worked. I just end up feeling depressed and slightly insane…

Ahem…but enough about me. I do have a few questions for you, if you don’t mind, as to what is the secret of your success…?

Question #1: Do you cheat?
Come on. You can tell me the truth. You’re stuffing your writing with filler, aren’t you? Your using ‘very’, ‘really’, ‘quite’ and all the mixtures therein , like ‘really quite’ and ‘very, very,’ and ‘really very’…That’s how you’ve reached your daily 1000 word count goal, isn’t it? Because 867 are filler adverbs! And another 100 are where you just typed the same word over and over…!

Question #2: Where are you?
You must be some place where you get lots of quiet time & few distractions. Solitary confinement maybe. Or a Buddhist temple. A deserted island, right? That’s how you are able to block out all those intrusions of daily living so can focus and meet your goal…You’ve sealed yourself off. Just you and your laptop, living the dream, the writing la Vida Loca…

Question #3: What are you on and where can I get some?
Is there some kind of ‘Writer’s Rescue Remedy’ that I’m not aware of? Some herbal tea mix? Or maybe you’ve added something extra to your coffee, hmmm? There must be something making you so concentrated and verbose, so that you can whip those words off in such a scant time frame. Perhaps an old family secret passed down thru generations? Come on. You can tell me. I promise I won’t patent it and sell it to other writers…and make millions…heh, heh…

Ok, turning serious for a moment…

I know it isn’t an easy task for writers to set daily writing goals and keep them. It takes hard work, dedication, will power…it’s like any goal, from losing weight to saving money for a trip to Disneyland. You need to believe in your objective…and figure out a plan that works for you.

For myself, I finally got off my tush, stopped drifting and set myself a yearly goal…my novel is to be finished by June, 2011.

But to really make that happen, I think I need to:

1. Break that goal down into slightly smaller targets so it’s not so overwhelming. (I think I’ll aim for 3 month blocks…)

2. Set specific but realistic targets. (Let’s say 3 chapters in 3 months…that seems pretty realistic…and if I go over, I’m going to feel great!)

3. Picture the benefits. What is my payoff? I need to see it. Feel it. Taste it. Smell it. That’s going to keep me motivated. (I will get to revel in the self-satisfaction of making my dream come true…plus I get to brag on Twitter and my blog…)

4. Start with where I’m at. A larger perspective is fine…but its still in ‘the future’. The real change happens in the present. Right now. So what do I need to do now? What is my next step? What can I reasonably accomplish this week? (Research the Ottoman Empire in 1813! Start that google search!)

5. ‘Know thyself’. I’ve just decided to admit it: I can’t do daily writing goals! They make me feel hemmed in and panicked. So I’m not going to do them! I need a broader time span, so I have flexibility and room to maneuver in case those ‘contingencies’ arise (like writer’s block rearing its ferocious head one afternoon, or having too many errands to run …or god forbid, my son actually flushes a toy car down the toilet…)

6. Proclaim it. Say it to someone, put it in your blog, put it on Twitter. For some reason, when you tell someone else this strengthens the commitment. Other people are watching. It’s like when you work out at home vs. going to an exercise class. At home, you might wimp out at 3 abdominal crunches…but in the exercise class you’re determined to do all of them because you’re not going to let them see you fail! (I’ve tweeted & blogged it and I’m also participating in @Arvael_oTierney weekly check in)

All right! I have now completed the 6 steps of my make-shift 6 step #writegoal plan. Now lets see if I can make it happen without adding adverb fillers, locking myself in the bathroom for all of eternity, or spiking my lemonade with some kind of homegrown Writer’s ginkgo biloba…

Posted in Goal Setting | 5 Comments »

Why I’m Enthralled With Blogging…

June 8, 2010

On April 19th I made my writing goal official by sending it out into the electric ether via my blog (see my first blog ‘Hello Universe‘). I did it again a week ago, this time restating it on Twitter:

I have made the pledge: one year from today, my novel will be finished…(!)

Meaning that by next June, when I turn 40, my novel, my piece de resistance, my 10 year-ish labour of love, will finally be finished…

So obviously I should be squeezing every last drop of writing time out of my busy life and making my writing goal happen…

The trouble is…I am spending all of my writing time blogging! And I can’t seem to make the switch back!

Blogging is just so much more attractive right now. It’s like my novel’s handsomer cousin has shown up and whisked me away in his silver Porsche! (Vroom! Bye y’all!)!

Here’s why I think I’m so enthralled:

1. Blogs are shorter.
No ‘50,000 and up’ word count before you pass the finish line! Yippee!

2. Blogs are more straightforward.
No need to weave the complicated strings of plot, character, setting, theme, mood, imagery, etc. Just pick one topic and dive in!

3. Blogging is a form of self-support.
I work through my ‘writer issues’ in my blog. I self-reflect on the writing art, explain my processes to myself, & laugh at my foibles—which supports my larger writing life, keeping me from being too serious & grumpy.

4. Blogs can be read immediately by someone other than my husband.
With your blog, you can get reader interest & feedback NOW and that’s a positive WOW moment for a writer, to feel like you’ve communicated, you’ve made a connection—without having to jump through the traditional publishing hoops—

BUT…

What about my novel? We’ve got history, depth; a long-term connection. I do still love it. I know I’ll come back to it…eventually…

Blog vs. Novel. Novel vs. Blog. Why must I make a choice? There’s got to be a way to have both. There’s got to be a way to have everything…

I have a sneaking suspicion the answer lies (yet again) with The Writer (i.e.: me) giving up more time sleeping…just to have more time writing…

‘Writer’s Insomnia’, indeed!

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A Writer’s Incentive and Reward Plan

May 27, 2010

I want a T-shirt that has my current total word count on it.

I’ll update it regularly, as a way to encourage myself…and also so I can preempt those questions I get occasionally re: ‘hey, Julie, how is that novel coming along? You done yet…?’

Er…or is this encouraging too many people to stare at my chest? OK, skip the T-shirt. Better make it a hat, then.

And at each 5000 mark, I’m treating myself to a new clothing item, or lunch at a Thai restaurant!

That ought to do it!

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Hello Universe!

April 19, 2010

I decided to start this blog because: a) I need an outlet for writer angst, b) in a way that doesn’t take itself too seriously c) with the possibility of connecting with other writers like myself who somehow squeeze their passion in between BBQ hamburgers and Dora The Explorer Episodes…

I’ve been working on the same novel for about ten years (it’s finally starting to coalesce!). I have two young boys (age 3 and 5), a part-time job as a teacher, as well as a (very helpful) husband in my life right now. I also have two cats.

Somehow I can attend to the fact that the boys have dumped the laundry on the carpet and are using the bin for ‘a boat’, while still deliberating on whether or not my main character (Caroline) should smack Sir Milburn’s face for his grinning impertinence…

I turn 40 next year. ‘My Goal’ is to have it done by then. Any bets? Define ‘done’, I guess. ‘First draft. Fully complete.’

There. I said it.

Now I click ‘update’ and send it out into the universe.

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