I kept telling myself that I didn’t want to make any resolutions–I don’t really celebrate secular New Year’s Eve. But something that happened that made me reconsider.
I’ve been struggling to write short fiction lately. I’ve been knee-deep in some big fiction projects, long-term, book-length projects, and my editing business has grown. I’m writing two (non-fiction) columns a month. But there are all sorts of itty-bittier bits that I’d like to get out, and which I think would be publishable. Yet, they aren’t getting done.
Also, when I sit down to write the columns, I feel like I start waaaaay too close to when they are due, which is a big stressor.
My resolution: write one page daily.
It’s not really a new habit. I used to do it all the time. It wasn’t really a journal–half the time, I was writing fiction, or a poem. But it left me a well of “assignment starters” to pick through when due dates loomed ahead.
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I published a piece today in The Wisdom Daily, (click to read it). And are you looking for a great Jewish novel to read? I’ve read two recently you might want to check out: The Key of Rain and Passport Control. (Click their names, and you’ll reach each of my reviews.) My latest, Adina At Her Best, is due out any day, but I’m not really getting excited until I have a copy in my hand. 😉
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Anyone have a writing resolution to share? Please tell us in the comments.
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Rebecca Klempner 
I can’t bring myself to make a writing resolution as I didn’t complete last year’s. I guess if I had one it would be, “Stop shaming yourself for what you didn’t write yesterday and just write something today!”
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That sounds like a good resolution! I feel like that shame and frustration builds up and keep blocking us otherwise.
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I would also like to develop a practice of not starting my articles the day before they’re due. It is a stressor, it throws off the rhythm of the rest of my life and while it might have worked when my children were younger, and of course, the pressure is a great motivator, I want to start my articles earlier. I’ve been in this routine for such a long time, though, I need to really sit down and figure out a way to reprogram my habit. And I don’t have time for that right now, hahahahaha!!!!!!
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In my case, I think of my month as having “on” weeks (when I have an article due or editing to do), and “off” weeks (when I have nothing on deadline due that week). I often slack off on “off” weeks or only work on big, book-length stuff. I think instead I need to think of them as the time to rough draft the stuff that will eventually be due. And hopefully, the “writing daily in handwriting in notebook” habit will move me in that direction.
My biggest motivator isn’t really the angsty and anxious nature of the last-minute writing (although, that is all so true). Honestly, I’m a bit of a snob. I know my work isn’t as good 90% of the time when I write at the last minute, and I want to send in only the most polished stuff.
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I wouldn’t call it snobbery, I would call it good work ethic! I absolutely notice the difference between my more slapdash pieces and the ones that get one, two, or more edits. There’s no comparison.
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When in the routine of working on a new book, as I currently am, I like to write in the early mornings of Monday through Friday and use Sunday mornings for activities like Amazon ads, sending out my newsletter, webinar replays, and the like. It’s a good way to ensure that some kind of progress happens every day.
I have often dealt with disruptions by using an 8-minute writing habit. I’ll bring a notebook in the car to the day job. After dropping off kids and dealing with the morning hullabaloo, I’ll park in the day-job parking lot and set an 8-minute timer. Then I’ll continue writing my outline, beats or whatever needs progress for the next 8 minutes, before entering the office building. This also means that some kind of progress occurs daily.
Continuous forward motion is key.
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I loooooove the parking the car idea.
Maybe I should sit in the car for 10 minutes after my run and write then.
Okay, now you’ve got the gears moving in my head.
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I think that’s an excellent goal and REALLY REALLY REALLY hard.
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