IWSG - January 2018

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.


So this month's question is: What steps have you taken or plan to take to put a schedule in place for your writing and publishing?

So, despite the fact that I was in a much better job last year, and had much more free time, I still didn't get a lot of writing done. I managed to do my 50,000 words for Camp NaNo, but it all kind of fell apart after that.

My blogging hasn't been much better - my only regular blog posts are the Celebrate the Small Things posts I take part in on a Friday, but even then I haven't done one of those in about a month.

But new year, new start! I know it's a cliché, but I really do think this is a good time of year for a fresh start, and to make new resolutions.

So that leads me back to the original question; the first step I'll be taking will be to actually use my timetable. I've been using one since I started blogging, to plan blog posts and organise my writing, but it's fallen by the wayside in recent months. I also have a habit of giving myself goals that are really difficult to achieve, so I'll be mindful of that when I'm working on my timetable and planning how much I can get done in a day. 

One of the things that has held me back on the editing for my Camp NaNo novel was my lack of a printer - I was unable to print off my first draft, so it sat on my laptop for months, untouched. Well, I finally caved in and bought myself a printer before Christmas, and have printed the draft off, so it's all ready for me to read and start to edit.

One of my main issues is time management, so I'm hoping that if I plan my time carefully using my timetable then I'll get into a routine of blogging and writing every day, if only for a short time every day. 


So there you go - these are the steps I'm currently taking to get my current novel finished. Feel free to share your new year goals in the comments.

Comments

  1. M.J. Fifield3 January 2018 at 09:21

    I like your timetable plan. I have a similar structure I'm trying to follow in an attempt to keep me more on task and less on Twitter and Facebook and Pinterest...

    Happy editing and best of luck!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Alex J. Cavanaugh3 January 2018 at 12:27

    Give yourself a reasonable plan. Glad you finally have a printer.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Jan Morrison3 January 2018 at 15:02

    I write much more when I have a full-time job but I'm working on changing that. One thing that works for me is to ignore the planning and just write because I can waste a lot of time planning. Planning can become a full-time diversionary tactic! And yes, small goals usually work better. Our mammalian brain hates big changes - best to sneak by it with incremental ones. Good luck! Or better - good pluck!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Yolanda Renée3 January 2018 at 16:28

    Wishing you all success with your goals!
    Happy 2018!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Cathy3 January 2018 at 17:54

    I set up timetables but then I get off track and stop following them altogether. Here's to both of us sticking with our timetables in 2018.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Misha Gerrick4 January 2018 at 14:01

    I'm slowly trying to ease myself into a timetable, but it feels like my life has no rhythm, which means it never feels like I can actually find a good time for anything.

    Have an amazing 2018!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hilary Melton-Butcher4 January 2018 at 19:47

    Hi Laura - you have the desire to write and succeed ... I'm sure you will get there - the timetable sounds a great way to start ... good luck as 2018 takes hold - cheers Hilary

    ReplyDelete

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