I have learned a lot last year about writing:
- I've been improving my grammar.
- I've been researching parts of my novels more.
- I started using Scrivener--which for me is the most amazing writing program in the world!
But, I have also learned a few things about myself:
- Although I'm a hard worker, I will place other things--cleaning, cooking, walking my dog, pretty much anything--in front of my writing. And when I leave my writing to the end of the day, I just don't get it done. I NEED to write in the mornings. That means NO PROCRASTINATION. So, that's one thing I'm going to be working on this year, getting up earlier and writing.
- Also, for me, motivation to write comes from inspiration and that takes meditation on my writing. So, I hope to spend some time before I write, getting excited about what I'm going to write about. MOTIVATION TAKES MEDITATION.
What are your writing goals?
If you're motivated to write in the morning, then do it!
ReplyDeleteTwo worthy notes in no procrastination and motivation through meditation that translate well for most of us.
ReplyDeleteFor me, I would add "Improvement through Reflection" as well. I tend to accomplish a task and want to immediately move forward to something else. If I only allowed myself time to reflect on the positives and negatives of the experience, I would be much better in the long-term.
Happy New Year Clarissa.
Those are good goals. I need to meditate more, clear my mind so I may write without the million things running through my mind all the time.
ReplyDeleteLove this. So true and great advice, I tend to put it off too and wait until the end of the day. My goal is to just keep at it!
ReplyDeleteI've been using Scrivener for a while now and it has to be the best tool for writers ever. I love it!
ReplyDeleteI've vowed to write in the mornings too. I take the dogs out for a couple of hours and then check emails, blogs, Twitter, Facebook - and the day vanishes. Now I'm determined to start writing as soon as I get home with the dogs and not stop until my daily quota is done. Wish me luck. ;)
Happy New Year to you, Clarissa!
Your goal of getting motivated before and by the writing makes so much sense!! Love that!! Thank you Clarissa and all the very very best for your 2013 writerly goals!! Take care
ReplyDeletex
Your goals are good advice for any project one wants to undertake, especially writing. Sounds like you're on the right track for 2013. Happy New Year.
ReplyDeleteMason
Thoughts in Progress
Sounds like some great ideas.
ReplyDeleteFingers crossed for you!
Heather
Avoiding procrastination certainly should be one of my goals!
ReplyDeleteOh, procrastination is the WORST! I am the Queen of it. I am.
ReplyDeleteMy writing goals are very simple: finish what I'm working on and practice every day. That's it.
ReplyDeleteAnd THANK YOU so much for the books! I will be using Murder and Mayhem in my current tale and can't wait to read The Sholes Key :)
Sounds like me, Clarissa. I'm the worst procrastinator and excuse maker ever when it comes to writing. Writer's block has nothing on just plain ol' procrastination. I plan on changing that in 2013, that's for sure!
ReplyDeleteI like writing in the morning too. I also need some quiet time to get my head in the right place - usually I write a blog post to get in writing mode.
ReplyDeleteYou're a good writer. So keep writing!!
ReplyDeleteHi Clarissa, You're a great writer and I'm confident you will do what you have to do to be successful! Happy New Year to you and yours!
ReplyDeleteI want to publish at least one novel this year. I'd also like to get my sequel "Caledfwlch" finished, edited, and off to the publisher before December. That's about it.
ReplyDeleteMornings are the best time for writing for me as well. May you achieve your goals and may this year be an awesome one.
ReplyDeleteFor a minute there I thought I wrote this! LOL
ReplyDeleteI do live Scrivener, but found that it can distract me too. :)
I write best first thing in the morning, too. Early. Still amazes me because I am NOT a morning person. Glad to see you back :)
ReplyDeleteit is always difficult doing the writing business in the morning when the whole house awaits with the chores....
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year, Clarissa. Here's to you moving forward on your goals this year. I downloaded Scrivener last year, but haven't tested it yet. Somehow, no matter which programmes I explore, I always go back to Word.
ReplyDeleteUnderstanding yourself is a worthy goal. Good luck in 2013.
ReplyDeleteI often find other things seem to come before writing too. It can be hard, especially being a Mum. I'm going to try to make it my first thing to do in the mornings too! Good luck!!
ReplyDeleteI've decided to look at my writing as a job which I go to for 3 hours every morning, before everyone starts demanding things of me. Decided I'll never get anything finished otherwise. It works! No one dare knock down my office door and I'm on my second pass through my Harlequin-esque novel.
ReplyDeleteI'm considering doing a grammar post regularly. My writing group sucks it up. So many people have never learned grammar properly! Like, old school properly!
Denise
I would love to read your grammar post!
DeleteClarissa - I like it that you've focused this past year on researching. I think it's so important to research a novel because that's what makes it authentic. If you don't have your facts straight it's going to be painfully clear painfully soon. What are my goals? This year I am hoping to find a publisher for my two newest Joel Williams novels.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year!
ReplyDeleteI wrote some goals just after Christmas that scare me!
I've just started using scrivener and I love it its fabulous.
Hope you achieve all your goals and more
Xx
My goal is simple - quit whining about writing and get to writing :) I'm with you on the procrastination. Its really bad when I'm doing yard work so I don't sit at the computer and write. I hate yard work!
ReplyDelete.......dhole
ew, I'm the same way. Motivation takes meditation for me, and I'll procrastinate like you don't KNOW when I should be writing. But once I start, I'm off to the races--LOL!
ReplyDeleteHere's to a FAB 2013! Can't wait to see what it holds~ *hugs* <3
Hi Clarissa - good to see the familiar Clarissa posts back!
ReplyDeleteAren't we all like that - when I was studying ... anything would go - the gardening, housework, etc but not putting my head into my books!
Good luck with the morning write - a good habit to acquire ... and then a very happy 2013 with more books etc ... Happy New Year ... Hilary
My goal is to improve my writing and to try and get one of my manuscripts picked up by a publisher. I know that last one is a lofty goal, but I'm going to try. I'm going to have to check out scrivener, I don't know what it is.
ReplyDeleteWow! This post sounds like me. I'm improving my grammar, started using Scrivener and (in the past) put my writing last. Cheers to a much more productive 2013!
ReplyDeleteThe most difficult thing to do, I think, is just what you say here: make that time to write! I do think that walking your dog should come at the top of the list, just as taking care of my daughter does for me. People and animals are MOST important. But doing that writing...I cheer you on because I'm anxious to read more of your books :)
ReplyDeleteI'm a terrible procrastinator too! Terrible. So I hear you!
ReplyDeleteI like to think and mull while writing, too. I'd rather have a fairly polished first draft than a fast one.
ReplyDeleteI put my writing before everything else and not much else gets done. But that's OK.
These seem like great goals. And its so true. Writing HAS to be high on the priority list, or it just doesn't get done. Some things might have to suffer a little, but this writing thing makes us happy, and that's the most important thing we can give ourselves.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year!
I love Scrivener! I'm so finicky with Word formatting that it's nice to have a program I can just open and write in. I find morning pages easy when I'm drafting, but with editing... it's hard to turn the computer on before work. If I find I'm getting no work done at night, I might just try it, though.
ReplyDeleteTo actually write. Unfortunately the best time for me to write is opposite of you and that's during the dead of night, in a closed room with only the light of a computer screen and desklamp.
ReplyDeleteNeedless to say, going to class dead tired is not good.
lovely!! the procrastination thing !! i agree with it it 120% eod you are so tired and drained ....creative juice all sucked out!! early mornings will do wonders for you ! best of luck!
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