Posted on 06 July 2020 10:17
Summary:
It’s been a great start to the second half of the year! I’ve cleared all but one of my short projects off my list (and worked out what I’m doing with the last one) to make way for the grand novel revision project. And I’ve processed a lot of great feedback on the novel from my wonderful beta readers, to inform my editing plan. Very happy with progress all round!
Read morePosted on 29 June 2020 09:39
Summary:
This week was very much a lesson in accountability and scheduling. I had two retreat days where I wanted to get specific tasks done but didn’t really feel like it on the day. But I stated my goals on two separate online communities and that helped me achieve them, even though I wasn’t feeling very enthusiastic.
Read morePosted on 21 June 2020 20:09
Summary:
Some good progress on various fronts, and a highly enjoyable collaborative workshop, which reminded me why I like spending time discussing things and working on stuff with other writers.
Read morePosted on 14 June 2020 19:47
Summary:
Monday has definitely become my most productive writing day, thanks to a great online writing retreat schedule that fits really well with how I like to structure my day.
Read morePosted on 11 June 2020 10:30
Things have been getting hard again. The daily routine has been feeling relentless. The future is still so uncertain. Everything has been seeming to take more energy that I don’t have. I’ve been grumpy and tired and not feeling like being constructive.
But it’s all in my head. And I do know that. But, sometimes, it takes a while to remember, and to give myself a nudge to change my attitude.
Read morePosted on 07 June 2020 18:23
Summary:
More planning and brainstorming and revising this week than actual new words, but a couple of stories completed, lots of submissions done. Oh, and I signed the contract with my publisher for my first novel. So, that happened...
Read morePosted on 31 May 2020 20:25
Summary:
Really great progress on the short story front this week, starting from an awesome session with structure provided by Urban Writers Retreat. I’m pleased that I then managed to build on that momentum to continue with the stories throughout the rest of the week. Here's hoping I can do the same next week!
Read morePosted on 24 May 2020 15:10
Summary:
A bit scattershot this week, and no real progress on any of my current fiction projects. Hey ho. Maybe next week...
Read morePosted on 17 May 2020 20:45
Summary:
I rediscovered Seempli this week, which was fun, particularly when I realised I could transform any of the creative challenges into a freewriting prompt. I helped out another writer with comments on the opening of her novel, which felt good. And I kept up with reviews. So, modest accomplishments, but pleasing.
Read morePosted on 10 May 2020 18:38
Summary:
Lots of great progress this week, working on writing projects at least a little bit every day. I also completed the second draft of my second novel, which felt significant. You know, I think I might actually be a novelist!
Read morePosted on 07 May 2020 09:44
I finished the second draft of my second novel this week, which feels significant, if only in my head.
The novel is still way too short (currently at 55,000 words, so needs at least 25,000 more added to it), but I know what I’m going to do to sort that out.
I think it’s good. I know it can be better, and I’m keen to improve it as much as I can, but I think it’s good.
And it feels like a confirmation that I can really do this, that the first one wasn’t just a ten-year one-off fluke. I’m not quite there yet but, before too long, I will have written two whole novels!
Read morePosted on 03 May 2020 19:17
Summary:
More reflective freewriting, leading to a breakthrough on the second novel, and also a decision to take a little bit of time off here and there, rather than pushing myself with a needlessly relentless schedule.
Read morePosted on 28 April 2020 10:20
One of my friends, a qualified coach and facilitator, has recently started offering a Prompt Prescription service where she provides freewriting prompts to help clients work through an issue they are facing.
I decided to try it out, with the issue I’ve been having lately with my writing. I emailed Claire to explain the problem, saying that I currently had to force myself to write, and it felt like dragging through mud.
Read morePosted on 27 April 2020 10:22
Summary:
Lots of reflection on my relationship with writing this week, which brought some clarity but also more questions. More work to be done there, I think! In the meantime, though, I made quite a lot of progress this week, despite lack of motivation, and was very pleased with what I achieved.
Read morePosted on 20 April 2020 09:22
Summary:
I went with little and often this week, working on something to do with writing every day, and ended up feeling good about my progress, despite not actually having done all that much in absolute terms.
Read morePosted on 13 April 2020 09:23
Summary:
Working on creative projects felt very hard this week. I tried to balance productivity with self-compassion and didn’t push myself very hard at all. I didn’t get very much done and struggled with feeling dissatisfied with my lack of achievement.
Read morePosted on 05 April 2020 17:12
Summary:
A very good week for writing this week. Progress on all fronts, a good plan for upcoming submissions and some fun challenges over the weekend. Very happy.
Read morePosted on 29 March 2020 19:00
Summary:
First full week of UK lockdown, which initially looked like it wouldn’t be a productive one on the writing front. But this was turned around by fantastic people running workshops and retreats online, and a series of three days at the end of the week where I made real progress on fiction for the first time in ages.
Read morePosted on 28 March 2020 12:34
I feel like I haven’t really done much writing so far this year. We’re coming to the end of the first quarter, and my sense on thinking back is that I haven’t achieved anything at all. But, actually checking back through my records, that really isn’t true.
Read morePosted on 23 March 2020 16:52
Summary:
Lots of reviews again, but I also finally got a short story rewrite done, which has been on my list for weeks.
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