I made a rough inventory of what I have so far:
- 20 concepts or seeds for short stories, about 6 that maybe useful and that I’d like to develop further.
- 2 major novella / book ideas (fictional): one with 6,500 words another with 777 (hmm)
- 1 non-fiction / memoir-like story (1,700 words)
- 1 contest entry (The Boathouse)
- 4 semi-solid pieces that need a rewrite and home found, if possible (3 not including contest entry)
- 500 words/day was my average word count last year including: journaling, blogging and fiction writing.
I also took some time to delve deeper into my weaknesses and obstacles, the so-called limiting beliefs, what’s preventing me from moving forward. So with my new paradigm, I know what I want, to let go of the old beliefs, and to stick it out and see it through.
One interesting thing that I have started to do, is match my writing goals with something else I know very well how to do – my training goals! For example, to train for a race in April, I would have to a) jog every other day, b) strength train the other every other day, and c) get mentally prepared everyday for the training/exercises, and the distance if I haven’t ever done it before. In analogy, I have to a) write fiction at LEAST every other day (non-fiction I already write everyday), b) do training exercises to use writing “muscles” I haven’t used previously, and c) be mentally prepared – i.e. unshakably calm and collected in my path and abilities, in my new paradigm with all the exciting possibilities it entails. After all that it is: Just Do It!
Lastly, I sorted out my creative workspace, for the most part at least. I am 80% there. New bookshelves, new organizers for my writing materials and drafts, ideas and workshops I’ve taken over the years collected and organized in terms of usefulness for me at the stage I am at now. The other 20% will come slowly over the coming weeks, as I make my writing office also my Oasis. A retreat from the cold, dirty world that we live in. Where I can think positively and write and edit and work with an undivided mind.
This week:
I am focusing on expanding my vocabulary (i.e. theme for this week = Word of The Day) and my reading list – to the kinds of work I would like to write. I am not aiming for Tolstoy or Kipling or Austen, more Atwood, Picoult, and Hornby. Contemporary. I have a talent for non-fiction though, and most of my writing business (i.e. paid) is that. Furthermore, I need to re-visit my list of where I want to get published this year and how am I going to get there (leftover task from last week). I don’t want too overwhelm myself (this year is going to be very busy already) but I am thinking 3 or 4 contests, and at least 1 journal submission each for non-fiction and fiction. The principle behind the Word of The Day / Reading theme is to expand my writing from “baby talk” to well-thought out pieces for the intelligent audience I write for, hence the magazines, contests or journals I want to write for.
Next week:
I will focus on the goal/theme of writing at least 1,000 words per day (currently unpaid work!) but can include non-fiction, journaling, blogging, AND fiction. The principle behind this theme is to get back into the routine and practice and have a target. Soon, it will be only on fiction…
I think sticking to the process now would be great for me and the direction I want to take with my life. As I said before, it’s all about commitment and passion… like a marriage? Perhaps. Anyway, thanks for reading!
Oh, answer to last week's #1 Question? Short answer, Yes! It's like breathing for me. ;-) There is no other why.
