In two days, it will be December. Does that sentence make your eyes widen in panic? Hopefully, you have a less worried reaction, but it's true that the tasks of the holiday season can easily overtake our day planners and our minds. Writing projects often get pushed aside during this extra busy time of year.
What would you like to accomplish writing-wise in the final month of 2007? A certain word count on your manuscript? A December/January contest submission? One query? Or maybe just a commitment to regularly journal through the holiday madness?
If you want to write despite and through next month's challenges, then first decide that's what you want to do. Intend to write in December. Choose to make it happen.
To help with this endeavor, here is an exercise from creativity coach and author, Eric Maisel's blog. Try out his suggestion, and see what you come up with to help you get past some of the excuses (valid or not) that keep you from writing.
There are always things that get in the way of our creating. You might try using the following sentence whenever you hear yourself offering up a reason not to create. "Yes, I am tired tonight, BUT I will write anyway." "Yes, it’s been a stressful day and my nerves are raw, BUT I will write anyway, at least for a few minutes." "Yes, I can’t stand it that I’m fighting with John, BUT I will write anyway, even though I don’t feel like it at all."
To do right now: Take a few minutes and identify two or three obstacles, internal or external, that regularly prevent you from creating. Write each one down and append the "big but."
Yes, December is upon us, but don’t freak out. Well, at least don’t stop writing. Write anyway.
-Marcia Peterson
You’re so right about the end of the year time crunch cutting into our writing goals!
ReplyDeleteThis morning I spotted a half dozen short story contest notices on my desk with November 30th and December 1st postmark deadlines, but with a mile-long, non writing to-do list also facng me, the urge to set my writing goals aside was overwhelming.
But, then I got to thinking, if everyone else is as busy as I am at this time of the year, then maybe . . . just maybe, the competition will be a bit thinner.
It's still not too late to beat those November 30th & December 1st contest deadlines.
Race ya to the post office :-)
You are so right. I happen to be a schedule-a-holic. I can schedule everything and organize anything (or so I think), especially for other people; yet, I've lost track of setting my own writing hours. I'm so bad!
ReplyDeleteThanks for this post; it's a needed reminder.
I'm glad I read this because I wasn't even thinking of December. I was already thinking of my writing goals for 2008 because, guess what, December is busy for me. But after reading this, I'm going to push aside those excuses and work on at least two short stories.
ReplyDeleteDiaryOAFW, great thought about contest competition being possibly less stiff at this time. Good luck with the stuff you send out!
ReplyDeleteSue, you DO seem very busy. :) Hope you get some writing time to yourself too.
Del, I know, I tend to skip right to next year's goals too. Let's make something good happen in December!
Marcia,
ReplyDeleteI was just thinking about this today! For a moment I was stressing... okay, what are my New Year's resolutions going to be? Not to mention, my writing resolutions. Yikes!
This year seemed to fly by, but, let me tell you all about a few goals for this coming year:
For WOW:
1. Get new dynamic site up and running ASAP! No more setbacks. The site I designed last March needs to be live soon. This will make everyone's life easier.
2. See WOW staff in L.A. this year for BEA! Come to my hometown and I'll roll out the royal red carpet for you all.
3. WOW! pow-wow girl's only retreat to a tropical resort and spa for the whole staff. (Annette and I have been talking about this... crossing fingers)
4. Much, much, more that I can't divulge in a blog post. ;-)
For my life in general:
Okay, this section is reserved to only those that know me personally, lol. Some of you already know about the bad habit I have... that I tried to quit last year!!! I'm not saying anything else, but think: Smokey the Bear. I know, I know... don't give me grief! It's terrible.
Writing:
1. Set time aside to get back to my novel -- even if it's only for a couple of hours each Sunday.
2. Spend time helping others with content editing. One of the things I like to do, and if I had more time I'd do it.
3. Free-writing with an egg-timer. Set aside time each week to let my brain relax and do it's own subconscious thing.
Well, that's my list in a sunflower seed. ;-)
What are your writing resolutions?