IWSG - November

For anyone who doesn't know, the Insecure Writer's Support Group is a group of writer's who post once a month about their insecurities, and then visit each other to offer help and support.



This month's question is: Win or not, do you usually finish your NaNo project? Have any of them gone on to be published?

Honestly, the only NaNo projects that I have gone on to finish were the ones I was doing as projects for university assignments. 

I've won NaNo a few times, but I've never actually finished the editing process for any of these projects. My most recent win was in July for Camp NaNo, and since finishing the first draft I haven't looked at it once.

I was speaking to a writer friend the other day, and it seems we have the same problem; we both work better to a deadline. Therefore I can win NaNo no problem, because it gives me a word count target and a deadline to hit it by, but I don't do as well on the editing side, because I have no deadlines.

Therefore, I'm going to start setting myself deadlines, and goals for my editing. The biggest issue I'll have with this is actually sticking to them, rather than pushing the deadlines forward (which I'm often guilty of doing). 

So this week, my goal is to print off the manuscript on Friday (when I'll have access to my mum's printer, I really ought to get my own), then read it through on Saturday and begin edits. Those are my goals for now.

If anyone has any tips on how they motivate themselves to work on edits, feel free to share!

Comments

  1. M.J. Fifield1 November 2017 at 17:21

    I have to set deadlines and/or goals for my editing, too, and for the same reason. I always find I need that little extra bit of motivation because I hate, hate, hate not accomplishing my goals.

    Best of luck with your edits! May they go smoothly!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Alex J. Cavanaugh1 November 2017 at 17:39

    Set those deadlines! I also work best with deadlines. Lazy writer I guess.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Pat Garcia1 November 2017 at 20:11

    I so agree. After reaching your fifty K goal the biggest challenge is setting a deadline and revising so you can get the manuscript published. It is a challenge that you really don't see when you're participating.
    All the best.
    Shalom aleichem,
    Pat G @ EverythingMustChange

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hilary Melton-Butcher1 November 2017 at 23:12

    Good luck Laura - I don't think I could do NaNo ... but equally I'm sure I could if I set a goal ... or two or three ... so go for it - all the best - Hilary

    ReplyDelete
  5. Caitlin Coppola2 November 2017 at 01:10

    If deadlines are crucial to getting work done, then definitely set them. But if you don't think you'll keep them, maybe reward yourself each time you do (with like an icecream Sunday or something), that way you have something to look forward to each time. Just a thought. Good luck!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Tonja Drecker5 November 2017 at 21:15

    Deadlines are my everything. Without them, things really drag on.

    ReplyDelete
  7. cleemckenzie6 November 2017 at 17:53

    I hate deadlines. I love deadlines. That sums it up!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Mina Burrows6 December 2017 at 19:05

    Deadlines. Ugh! Does it help to have the character in your head, whining about finishing the edits? Yeah that might work.

    ReplyDelete

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