#Writemotivation and Progress
Originally published at K.T. Hanna - The Scribble Muse. Please leave any comments there.
So - if anyone here follows me on Twitter, you’ll know I finally finished my first full pass of revision/edits on the first book in my trilogy.Yay - go me etc. But wait, there’s more.
I woke up this morning with an idea on how to achieve something I’ve been struggling with for the last couple of months. So technically, though the pass is finished, I’m going through the first five chapters to insert the idea I had before sending it to pre-beta people
It’s very daunting to go through the revision process. In fact, this is the first time I’ve made it in a novel length piece. Sure, I’ve revised short stories into the ground, but novels? Those I usually leave on the ‘no way I can polish this’ shelf and move onto something else.
Right now I have a story nagging at the back of my mind with tantalizing tidbits of plot and intrigue that I’m just itching to write down. But I scribble notes here and there so I don’t lose the main points and leave it. If I stop my revision now, I’ll stop it indefinitely and give into the urge to write. Just like I always do.
This is where motivation comes in.
A while back one of my Twitter friends was very down about writing and couldn’t get motivated. So, I made the #writemotivation hashtag and bombarded her with it. You know, because friends do that. Since then, it’s been used by several people I know and it’s got me thinking.
January is just around the corner. That time when we all make those new years resolutions, and if you’re a writer, they generally involve writing. Most of the people who use the #writemotivation hashtag know me or talk to me on a regular basis.
I’d like to coax my friends into a #writemotivation month in January. To help us all get on that resolution train with both feet and head full steam to our destination. Bad analogy? Maybe, but I like steam trains.
Basically, I motivate myself and while doing so, I like to motivate others. Cheering people on and encouraging their progress is a great part of being in a writing community.
If you’d like to take part in the January 2012 #writemotivation month - please drop a comment below and let me know:
Your Name:
URL:
Twitter:
Goals for January 2012: (Be realistic. The aim is to motivate and complete the goals for a good start to 2012)
At the end of December I’ll make a post with a list of participants
What I’d like us to get out of it:
1. Make a list of goals you feel are achievable in January - and achieve them
2. By the end of the month a tentative list of 2012 goals you feel are achievable
3. Update your blog every Monday starting January 2nd 2012 with progress or tidbits that helped you stay motivated. It doesn’t have to be the sole reason for the post, just include it somewhere in there.
4. Visit other #writemotivation blogs to cheer people on
5. Tune in to #writemotivation on Twitter and cheer your friends on.
I’d like to start 2012 off on a positive note.
My goals for January:
- Finish the paper edits of books 2 & 3.
- Start 2nd pass of Book 1.
- Keep up with my Google Reader
- Make at least 2 blog posts per week
I feel these are achievable goals. (And I’m starting 3&4 straight away
).
How do you plan to start the new year? Same old? New outlook? What are your goals for your writing in the long term?
I look forward to cheering people on