A few years ago a friend of mine told me that I needed to lower my expectations, that I was continually setting myself high expectations which in turn was setting myself up for a fall. Truth hurts.
Today his words sprang to mind and I found myself relating them to my writing. I used to set myself writing goals, a 'to do' list for each day. I expected a lot from myself and by the end of each day having not succeeded to complete this list I would be disappointed. Felt like a failure.
I stopped doing these lists and decided to write what I wanted when I wanted to. Discipline went out the window and my achievement rate when down hill really fast. This plan was not working. Needed a new plan.
After many long walks last week I re-assessed my situation and came up with a new plan:- Back to the daily 'to do' lists BUT make it achievable, still challenging but achievable. I think this will give me some direction and bring balance and order to my writing regime. Have expectations but make them achievable!
How do you go about your writing day? Do you have a plan?
Keep writing....
It's really hard to get the balance right, isn't it. I seem to rebel against targets that are too specific. Usually I have a sort of rolling list of things in progress, or projects to start, and as long as I am ticking off one or two things every month then I feel OK about it. Still think I could do better, though.
ReplyDeleteIt certainly is hard to get the balance right Joanne. I am forever looking for the right balance/combination which allows me to enjoy my writing and be productive.
DeleteI think your plan of achievable daily lists is a good one, Diane - but I don't agree with your friend! Sometimes it's good to challenge ourselves, even if we don't quite get there at that specific time. I definitely need to try the daily list idea as I'm not focusing enough at the moment.
ReplyDeleteThanks Rosemary. I do agree and think it is very important to challenge ourselves. My problem was setting myself unrealistic expectations. After all these years of writing (I'm talking decades here) I expected to be selling a short story every week and writing a novel every year. Perhaps I was dreaming and hoping beyond my realm of possibility. We had so many more short story markets back then too. Here in Australia at one point I was submitting to six short story magazines and that has dwindled down to one.
DeleteI got so angry with my lists that I had a hissy fit and ripped them to pieces and like you, I tried to go with the flow, but found I was just drifting along without purpose. Now I have a chart on my wall with things I like to get done every week - I don't beat myself up if the boxes don't all get ticked, but it serves as a reminder if I'm twiddling my thumbs wondering what to do!
ReplyDeleteAnd I agree with Rosemary - aim high :-) x
Thanks Teresa - glad I'm not the only one. I do like the idea of a weekly chart and not beating yourself up if those boxes don't all get ticked. I will try and have more confidence in myself and aim high... Mmmm tho an acceptance right about now would help me with that. x
DeleteI think the 'to do list' is a good idea, because you have to be extremently self motivated if you just let things move along without any structure. There is also much less motivation if you are doing it for a hobby, which is where I stand. For me it has to be a pleasure and not a chore. So I have periods where I have a rest and then eventually I feel the need to get going again. We are all different.
ReplyDeleteHi Maggie - I agree, I for one, need that list to give me some kind of discipline. I tried it without the list and I'm afraid it made me a bit lazy. I agree with you too about it has to be a pleasure and not a chore. I think if we enjoy what we're doing it reflects in our writing. :-)
DeleteI give myself a date to achieve a goal, and then just write. For instance. I started a short story, (that turned into a novella) at the beginning of April. I wanted to finish it by the end of May. I didn't care how much I wrote per day, only that I wrote. Some days I wrote 2000 words, others, less than 100. And then one crazy day I wrote almost 6k. I finished it last week.
ReplyDeleteKeep your goals manageable and don't give up. It doesn't matter what you write, only that you write.
Thanks for your comment Anne. You sure did well on that crazy day. Almost 6k, wow! I wouldn't mind one of your crazy days :-)
DeleteI'm with Anne! Just write. :) I do set goals for myself as I need them to drive towards, otherwise I faff around forever!
ReplyDeleteThank you Talli - I'm starting to believe I do need to get back to doing a list otherwise I am a true 'faffer'. Thanks for your comment. :-)
DeleteI used to have more of a plan to work to than I do now - think I should go back to it.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your goals.
Thanks Patsy - yes, well it certainly wasn't working for me not having a plan. Already this week I said to myself, I will be happy if I can begin drafting a short story to work on.
DeleteWould you believe I have been drafting two stories this week? Go figure... x
My writing plans are always heavily underscored by procrastination - but I persevere in the search for self discipline that will keep me task focussed.
ReplyDeleteHello Merlene and welcome to my blog. Oh yes I do indulge in procrastination, lol. I think perseverance will get us where we need to be. Thank you for leaving a comment :-)
DeleteI know two sayings about setting targets for yourself:
ReplyDelete1. Aim for the stars and you may hit the moon.
2. Shoot first and whatever you hit - call it the target.
You can choose whichever suits you.
Oh 'Dream it, then do it' I really like that. Awesome! Thank you. :-)
DeleteI am a list maker, but am learning to be flexible. I'm a work in progress! I agree with the others - just write. Above all, that should be our goal. We are writers, after all. :)
ReplyDeleteHappy weekend!
'Just write' - I like that Karen. Perhaps this week coming I will stop thinking so much and writing more. Thanks for your comment x
DeleteYour friend was right. I write lists but I don't put a time limit on completion of each item. Sometimes I find a break in writing does me good, even in the middle of a story. I come back with a fresh brain and new ideas. I stopped worrying when I realised this was happening. If I can't get an ending right I walk away from it for a few days and when I return I seem to have a new lease of life because the ending just 'arrives'.
ReplyDelete