Structure and Goals
Last week, I was unable to write a decent blog. Some might ask why. I'm home all day. How hard can it be to come up with a topic and find the time to write a few paragraphs? Most weeks, it's not difficult. Others, my schedule gets trounced and before I know it, it's Wednesday night and I haven't written one word.
In the early years of my writing career, I had it easy; no kids and the hubby worked a rotating schedule. I wrote in the evenings and on the weekends when he wasn't home. There was no one to bother me. I could concentrate and keep typing away. Then I had my son, became a stay-at-home mom and there was about 4 years when I didn't write. Taking care of a baby and then an active toddler was hard work. If I so much as glanced at the keyboard for more than 10 minutes, he was into something he shouldn't have been. Or teasing the dog.
Once he went to school, I sat down and made out a writing schedule. Through the past few years, that schedule has been modified to fit my volunteer time at my son's school. This year, I have greatly trimmed my volunteer work in the hopes of staying on top of my writing.
Has this worked? Just like last year, the answer is no. Which frustrates me to no end. Things pop up, causing me to crunch time and fall behind--which I absolutely hate. I'm one of those 'get it done now and then I don't have to worry about it' types. (I've tried to pass this on to my son, but at 10, he doesn't get it. Yet.) But after a month of one set back after another, I'm happy to say, this week I'm back on top and feeling content.
Writing goals are important to me. I strive to complete one chapter per week; one that requires minor tweaking when I'm in the editing process later on. To accomplish this, I need daily structure and organization. Not just at my desk, but throughout my home. I hate clutter, messes and things out of place. I get as much 'home' stuff completed in the early morning as I can and then it's bottom in chair and write. And I like it quiet when I'm writing.
I used to listen to the radio when I wrote, but then I found I was paying more attention to the songs and the news than my story. So now, I keep the radio off and take a break here and there to give my eyes and brain a quick rest. And then it's back to work.
I write until lunch time and then see what errands I can put off for another day and get back in the chair for another hour or so of writing in the afternoon. My payoff for all of this is that feeling of accomplishment I get at the end of the week for a job well done. I don't require a bubble bath with candles, or dinner out, just a simple thought of, 'I did it'. And then my thoughts jump to next week's writing, but I do make time to enjoy my family over the weekend. Without them, I wouldn't have gotten this far. They are both loyal to my work, supportive, and they make life fun.
So make your list of weekly goals. And do your best to complete them. But remember, we are all human and life does get in the way. When that happens, take a deep breath and relax. You'll get to the end of your list, maybe via a different route than you envisioned, but you'll get there and feel that much more satisfied you did.
In the early years of my writing career, I had it easy; no kids and the hubby worked a rotating schedule. I wrote in the evenings and on the weekends when he wasn't home. There was no one to bother me. I could concentrate and keep typing away. Then I had my son, became a stay-at-home mom and there was about 4 years when I didn't write. Taking care of a baby and then an active toddler was hard work. If I so much as glanced at the keyboard for more than 10 minutes, he was into something he shouldn't have been. Or teasing the dog.
Once he went to school, I sat down and made out a writing schedule. Through the past few years, that schedule has been modified to fit my volunteer time at my son's school. This year, I have greatly trimmed my volunteer work in the hopes of staying on top of my writing.
Has this worked? Just like last year, the answer is no. Which frustrates me to no end. Things pop up, causing me to crunch time and fall behind--which I absolutely hate. I'm one of those 'get it done now and then I don't have to worry about it' types. (I've tried to pass this on to my son, but at 10, he doesn't get it. Yet.) But after a month of one set back after another, I'm happy to say, this week I'm back on top and feeling content.
Writing goals are important to me. I strive to complete one chapter per week; one that requires minor tweaking when I'm in the editing process later on. To accomplish this, I need daily structure and organization. Not just at my desk, but throughout my home. I hate clutter, messes and things out of place. I get as much 'home' stuff completed in the early morning as I can and then it's bottom in chair and write. And I like it quiet when I'm writing.
I used to listen to the radio when I wrote, but then I found I was paying more attention to the songs and the news than my story. So now, I keep the radio off and take a break here and there to give my eyes and brain a quick rest. And then it's back to work.
I write until lunch time and then see what errands I can put off for another day and get back in the chair for another hour or so of writing in the afternoon. My payoff for all of this is that feeling of accomplishment I get at the end of the week for a job well done. I don't require a bubble bath with candles, or dinner out, just a simple thought of, 'I did it'. And then my thoughts jump to next week's writing, but I do make time to enjoy my family over the weekend. Without them, I wouldn't have gotten this far. They are both loyal to my work, supportive, and they make life fun.
So make your list of weekly goals. And do your best to complete them. But remember, we are all human and life does get in the way. When that happens, take a deep breath and relax. You'll get to the end of your list, maybe via a different route than you envisioned, but you'll get there and feel that much more satisfied you did.
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