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writing organisation

Writing Process

October 16, 2019 by JoAnna Leave a Comment

 

I don’t know about you, but my writing can be affected by the seasons, or any other distraction for that matter. Perhaps a large part of it is that my other ‘work’ is as flexible as my writing routine. That can be seen as a dream for some and I know I’m very fortunate but like everything, it can also have its downsides. A couple of weeks ago it looked as if Autumn had really arrived, talk of bonfires and dark evenings. However, for the past few days, the days have been warm, almost Indian summer-like with cold nights that have required us to light the wood burner.

Here are four things that I find useful in keeping my writing on track, whatever the season (or distraction, usually animal related) that may be. And given that NaNoWriMo starts in a couple of weeks, I think these are going to come in handy!

Monthly Goals

I’ve always set goals, every year for as long as I can remember. And for as long as I can remember, I’ve never reached the end of that year having achieved them. I’m too ambitious, too full of hope that this year will be the one and therefore I set myself up to fail. Following the example set by another writer with the same dilemma, I’ve been setting monthly goals now for the better part of this year. And they work, for whatever reason I’m getting more done than I’ve ever done. Perhaps it’s more time relevant, more in the moment and I can actually see the progress rather than wishing on a star. It’s also helped by the second hack I’ve employed this year.

Focused Project Days

Again, for all my life I’ve considered myself to excel at multi-tasking. That was certainly true for my younger self as a single mum, having a full-time job and completing a degree all at the same time. Nowadays I’m not so good at balancing all those spinning plates. And what’s more, it didn’t work. Not for my writing anyway. Now I split the weekdays into daily focused projects where I concentrate on one thing at a time. It could be a short story I’m polishing for a competition or editing on one WiP or researching a new one. Occasionally I find myself dipping into something I shouldn’t be but a sharp rap on the knuckles does the trick.

Sweating the Small Stuff

Having said I focus on a daily project, I do spend half an hour at the beginning of the day just getting those small niggly things of my list. The things that may seem insignificant, like replying to an email or some housekeeping admin, watering the pots, tickling the kitties… whatever. If I tick them off my list that’s more headroom for writing. And that can be a good thing.

Daily Free Writing Sessions

For the past two months during the hot weather, I’ve set myself a target of daily, Monday to Friday, free writing sessions. The WA Monday Muse often forms one of these but I’ve also used them as preparations or the start of scenes in my current WiP and most definitely for the project the day. I’ve missed one or two days because of one thing or another. But it certainly has helped in me getting to The End.

What works for you?

Filed Under: Writing, Writing Process Tagged With: creative wriiting, getting things done, novel writing, writing goals, writing organisation

Writing Goals: May

May 7, 2019 by JoAnna Leave a Comment

Last Month’s Goals (April)

A better month health wise and I think I’ve made great progress with my aim for getting ahead. As we leave for a six week trip in Bobbus, our camper van, on the 8th May I need to be prepared… as well as think about what I can achieve realistically whilst we’re away.

😛 Post four more chapters of Wolf Moon on Wattpad – yep, I continue to keep on target with Wolf Moon and most of all it’s helping me to get the edits done. All about accountability.

🙂 Market Short Story as a giveaway – well I’ve finished The Earth Dragon of Sassi and it’s now available here… as for marketing it, well I’ve given a little nudge but as writers we all find it hard to blow our own trumpet… but it’s finished and that’s a big thing

😕 Marketing Plan for Journals – this keeps being pushed back, but that’s okay. It’s one of the projects I might spend some time on whilst we’re away as it’s easy to pick up in small windows of time. I hit a brick wall because I have spent some time creating new covers but the format of the interior has gone all awol… and I’m not sure why

😎 Complete snowflake for the Rainbow Book 1 – I’ve had so much fun with this over the past four weeks and I’m so excited about the story. I’ve started the scene list and again it’s something I’ll dabble with whilst I’m away.

😉 Plan timeline for for the first draft of Rainbow Book 1 – well, I’ve not given this much thought but I shan’t be drafting it until I get back. So by the end of summer (2019 that is) I hope to have the first draft done.

So this month and half of June is going to be a little scatty in terms of goals. I don’t want to set the stakes too high, yet I do want to maintain momentum so these are my initial thoughts for this month…

🎯 Complete all edits of Wolf Moon – before I leave on 8th *gulp*

🎯 Schedule all Social Media posts as far as I can up to end of June

🎯 Re look at Journals for Writers and plan relaunch (for my return in June)

🎯 Organise and clean up my One note Bujo (which is essentially my whole life) and Pinterest Boards

🎯 Work on scene list and world building for Rainbow Chronicles

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: Monthly Goals Tagged With: creative wriiting, getting things done, monthly goals, novel writing, writing organisation

April Goals 2019

April 2, 2019 by JoAnna Leave a Comment

 

Last Months Goals (March)

Now, I’ve had a month of two halves… the first part I spend sniffling and coughing away with a very heavy chest cold and the second half I put my back out pulling my leggings on! The pain has been excruciating (and I have a high pain threshold) and debilitating. And not to mention the distractions of another ‘B’ word I refuse to sully my blog with. So despite all that…

🙂 Publish four more parts of Wolf Moon on Wattpad – yep achieved this goal and managed to get ahead of myself as we will be away in the van May to early June.

😉 Publish Short Story – Ring of Fire this story is almost finished but needs some polishing and I’ve decided not to publish but offer as freebie to join my subscribers list…

🙁 Marketing Planner for Writer’s Journals this one got left on the back burner. It’s not one of my top priorities but I do plan to pick it up again this month if time.

🙂 Plan a Blog and Social Media Strategy for next 3 Months by the skin of my teeth and a useful filler for when Scooby had a little op and I was distracted by hourly supervised garden visits and lots of cuddles. All posts planned until end of June… feels good

😉 Complete Snowflake for Rainbow Books made a good start on this and so enjoying it, but priorities and time got the better of it… will pick it up again this month

So, what’s in store for this month?

Filed Under: Monthly Goals, Writing Process Tagged With: creative writing, getting things done, monthly goals, writing organisation

March Goals 2019

March 1, 2019 by JoAnna Leave a Comment

Last Month’s Goals (February)

🙂 Publish four parts of Wolf Moon on Wattpad – yay! And I had a couple of lovely comments and secured some more followers. Check out the story and let me know what you think.

🙂 Map out plan for Rainbow books – yay! I’ve organised my story bible and summarised three potential novellas which will be linked but hopefully standalone. So excited about this project.

🙁 Draft fantasy story – almost, I should have been finishing it yesterday and today but have been feeling sorry for myself with a chesty cold and sore throat…

🙂 Schedule and publish 2 posts per week on Instagram account – double yay! I’ve posted every weekday and some weekend days, have increased my followers and am interacting. Also been scheduling posts on Facebook and Twitter and managed a weekly blog… so it feels pretty good.

So what’s in store for this month?

Filed Under: Monthly Goals Tagged With: creative wriiting, getting things done, monthly goals, writing goals, writing organisation

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