January 2021 Writing Log (2 Writing Days)

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I’m re-purposing this blog post. This was in my “Drafts” folder here on WordPress and was an entry that was supposed to go up way back in . . . (I’m ashamed to admit this) . . . September 2020. Yep, that’s right, I started this draft to talk about some of my writing projects way back in September of last year, and well, school happened and I never got back to it. So, I’m scrapping the introduction that’s here and replacing it with the one you’re reading (don’t worry, you aren’t missing much)–just some generic garbage about how I’m going to do better and be a better writer in the coming semester (yeah, because that aged SO well). Anyway, I thought, rather than talk about what I want to accomplish, let’s actually talk about what I did accomplish. Let’s hold myself accountable, with the good, the bad, and yes, the ugly. And speaking of ugly, have a gander at the next section.

2 Writing Days in January

Yeah, I’m not proud of this one myself. I only managed two, yes count ’em, two writing days in January. Obviously, that’s not really true as I put together a syllabus for the course I’m teaching as well as the various assignments, I uploaded a ton of materials to D2L, the online learning platform for MTSU, I wrote a letter of recommendation for one of my students, and way too many emails to even count, many three solid paragraphs and more. I also need to update a couple of more documents in the near future as well as draft my conference paper for TPA (TN Philological Association) for an upcoming conference.

So, when I say only 2 writing days and I’m down on myself, it refers to creative writing (and it doesn’t even include the blog, although the entries haven’t been as plentiful as I would have liked). According to Scrivener, I wrote on Jan. 11 (134 words) and Jan. 30 (350 words) for a January 2021 total of approximately 500 words (484 words) for the month. I guess that it is good that it wasn’t 0 words, but I really feel like I can do better (one of the reasons to do this blog–both this post and the blog overall–is to do just that: do better).

Project Sea Stats

The project that I’m currently working is called Project Sea. I do an Author’s Note (my version of a “deep dive”) on it when I finished it and have sent it off to its first market. However, I can give some basic stats: in December 2020, I managed 5 writing days with a total of 1,243 words. When you add in the 484 words from January 2021, that means I’m currently up to approximately 1,700 words into the story. It feels like I’m wrapping the story up, and if I’d would have had more than 2 writing days in January, I probably would have finished the first draft already.

Why does this matter? My subconscious mind has already begun working on revisions for the story. I now have a new introductory scene that I would like to write to add in a stronger focus on characterization than what I have currently written. By not writing and finishing the first draft, I’m sabotaging my writing process. If I stop working on the ending, then when I get to the revision, I won’t know the specifics of what I need to describe. This happens quite often in my projects as I feel the revised scene is much stronger than what I have, but I’m making myself finish the first draft this time around so that hopefully, my subconscious will work its way through the rest of the story.

Semester by Semester, 250 words by 250 words

So, even though this is January, I’m also working from semester to semester. By the end of the semester, I want to have Project Seas finished and ready to start submitting. I want to start a new project (short story) for Summer 2021. Three (3) new short projects per year (1 a semester) seems like a workable goal, especially in addition to writing longer projects that can span more than 1 semester (and working on a dissertation as well).

All this to say, that I haven’t done myself any favors by only writing 2 days in January. I averaged 242 words for the month, which is the same 250 words per bulletin board post that I ask my students to do all of last semester and this semester as well. In single space, digital form, 250 words only equals about two paragraphs (full paragraphs, mind you) of screen real estate, so I feel like it is something that is both substantial, yet achievable. That’s what I’m working towards myself this month. Hitting as many 250 word writing days as possible. As I finish this post, it is Feb. 3rd, 2021 and I’ve not yet written anything for the month of February (creatively–I’ve actually finished two blog posts this month–maybe I should put these into Scrivener just to keep a running total of when I work on these things as well; something to consider).

Well, this blog post is beginning to run long–there’s not a word counter on the post editor itself, but once I post it, I can see how long this is, but I’m guessing it is at least 500 words and probably closer to 750-800, so I will wrap it up here. My takeaway: 250 words is ridiculously doable and I need to maximize the number of days that I hit the 250 word target. As February is the shortest month, you (and I) should know shortly if I can take advantage of the new knowledge that I’ve gained about my writing process.

Sidney

Please consider supporting these fine small press publishers where my work has appeared:

Read Skin Deep for Free at Aurora WolfRead Childe Roland for Free at Electric SpecPurchase  HawkeMoon  on Amazon.com (Paperback) or eBookPurchase  Dragonhawk  on Amazon.com (Paperback) or KindlePurchase  WarLight  on Amazon.com (Paperback) or KindlePurchase  Ship of Shadows  on Amazon.com (Paperback) or KindlePurchase  Faerie Knight  on Amazon.com (Paperback) or KindleCurrently Working On (February 2021):Unhallowed (Weird Western Story)
Out to MarketStarlight, Starbright (Science Fiction Story)
In for Revision & EditingThe Independent (Science Fiction Story)
In for Revision & EditingProject Seas (Fantasy Story)
Prewrite: Completed, Plan & Outline: Completed, Write a first draft: In Progress