With so many demands on each of us, it becomes challenging to find the time to write. I carve out snippets of time by using the timer on my stove. I gather whatever I will be working on for the time alloted, set the timer, usually for 90 minutes and begin.
Over time, I realized if I want to have time to write, I need to make it a priority. So when the timer is ticking, I don't search the net, I don't answer the phone, I ignore folks hollering my name - unless it sounds/smells as if the house is on fire. (so far that has never been the case!) I don't go change the laundry from the washer to the dryer. I write! I edit. I research. I do writer stuff only.
With this simple concept I discovered several things:
1. I have made writing a priority worth pursuing by making time for it.
2. My actions make others realize how important writing is to me.
3. When I take my writing seriously, others do the same.
4. I actually make progress when I have a good chunk of time to think and write.
5. Progress encourages me to make bigger strides to complete my goal.
6. Reaching my goal seems possible, then attainable, then inevitable!
7. And oh, how I like the sound of that!
Sometimes the biggest hurdle we face as writers, is creating the time to work on our project. I know we have discussed this before at Acme Authors, but each of us struggle with this and it has become an everyday challenge to keep writing.
Please take a moment to share how you find the time to write and create. Are you a morning writer? A train writer? Perhaps you burn the midnight electricity to write. What keeps you in the chair?
Til next time ~
DL Larson
Showing posts with label goals. Show all posts
Showing posts with label goals. Show all posts
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Thursday, May 26, 2011
What Overtakes Your Dreams? by DL Larson
I have a small plaque on my desk at the library: "In Life, don't let the weeds overtake your dreams!" Nearly ever day someone reads the quote outloud and comments on the simple advice. Many times it's the adults who ponder on their future, sharing how they haven't had time to work on their goals or dreams. My usual response, "that's why I display the plaque! We should NEVER forget our dreams."
Every day happenings have a way of nudging our dreams right out of our thoughts, let alone off our "To Do" List. Staying focused is hard. But that doesn't mean we let the routine part of life choke our goals til they no longer thrive. We need to take a moment or two and decide what it is that overtakes our creative ambitions? And what can we do to accomplish our once shiny and sparkling dreams? How do we make them a priority?
So, after contemplating awhile, I'm taking my own advice; I'm restructuring my goals, creating time to read more, write more and make a real effort to keep the weeds from covering up my dreams. I'm striving for time management - a real challenge for me!
What helps you stick to your routine? Do you have a favorite inspirational saying? Perhaps most importantly, how do you avoid the pitfalls that suck away your writing time?
Take a moment to share with us.
Til next time ~
DL Larson
Every day happenings have a way of nudging our dreams right out of our thoughts, let alone off our "To Do" List. Staying focused is hard. But that doesn't mean we let the routine part of life choke our goals til they no longer thrive. We need to take a moment or two and decide what it is that overtakes our creative ambitions? And what can we do to accomplish our once shiny and sparkling dreams? How do we make them a priority?
So, after contemplating awhile, I'm taking my own advice; I'm restructuring my goals, creating time to read more, write more and make a real effort to keep the weeds from covering up my dreams. I'm striving for time management - a real challenge for me!
What helps you stick to your routine? Do you have a favorite inspirational saying? Perhaps most importantly, how do you avoid the pitfalls that suck away your writing time?
Take a moment to share with us.
Til next time ~
DL Larson
Thursday, May 19, 2011
A Goal Not Met ... by DL Larson
On May 20, 2010 I made a challenge: To complete my WIP, Renzo, The Reliant, by May 20, 2011.
My Reward if I succeeded: chocky dessert from whatever restaurant I chose, AND a boat ride with my hubby!
Well, I'm bummed I did not meet my challenge. I have not completed my WIP. I have worked diligently when I worked, but I didn't realize when I made this challenge how many changes were about to happen in my life. My son and his family moving in with us was a surprise and delight, but not in my plans, nor was my mother passing. Plus my daughter unexpectedly deciding to marry was a surprise, not to mention an emotional whirlwind. Mom mode took over more often than writer's mode this last year and that is fine ... real life should take presidence over writing time. I'm a bit disappointed I did not meet my own challenge, but I did make significant strides to reach my writing goal.
I've completed 21 chapters with approximately 43,000 words. I'm close to half way. All but six chapters are typed and roughly edited, so I wasn't completely lazy as a writer. My characters are at a good pace with goals for each in place, the plot is flowing and my mind is ever churning at the question, what next? I'm hoping when I do have writing time, the words will flow and more progress will be made.
I'm not ready to challenge myself again, chaos still reigns at my house. But I have a focus on where my time can be better spent and I have plans to redirect my schedule to make more time to write - no matter what!
My family has always come first before my writing and that will never change. For when is all said and done, the warm hugs of family are more precious than anything else in my life. After all, it is my family who has cheered me on every step of this writing journey.
Til next time ~
DL Larson
My Reward if I succeeded: chocky dessert from whatever restaurant I chose, AND a boat ride with my hubby!
Well, I'm bummed I did not meet my challenge. I have not completed my WIP. I have worked diligently when I worked, but I didn't realize when I made this challenge how many changes were about to happen in my life. My son and his family moving in with us was a surprise and delight, but not in my plans, nor was my mother passing. Plus my daughter unexpectedly deciding to marry was a surprise, not to mention an emotional whirlwind. Mom mode took over more often than writer's mode this last year and that is fine ... real life should take presidence over writing time. I'm a bit disappointed I did not meet my own challenge, but I did make significant strides to reach my writing goal.
I've completed 21 chapters with approximately 43,000 words. I'm close to half way. All but six chapters are typed and roughly edited, so I wasn't completely lazy as a writer. My characters are at a good pace with goals for each in place, the plot is flowing and my mind is ever churning at the question, what next? I'm hoping when I do have writing time, the words will flow and more progress will be made.
I'm not ready to challenge myself again, chaos still reigns at my house. But I have a focus on where my time can be better spent and I have plans to redirect my schedule to make more time to write - no matter what!
My family has always come first before my writing and that will never change. For when is all said and done, the warm hugs of family are more precious than anything else in my life. After all, it is my family who has cheered me on every step of this writing journey.
Til next time ~
DL Larson
Thursday, January 13, 2011
"To Do List" or "Goals" by DL Larson
Last night I attended the WindyCity RWA meeting. It has been several months since I was able to make a meeting, and just as usual, I was greeted with friendly faces and a warm welcome. The topic was "setting obtainable goals," something all of us need to focus on. I confess I'm a list maker, so setting goals feels more like completing my "to do" list. And that's okay.
I let my fingers write as my mind wanders and before long I have a list of tasks before me. My current list is a mixture of writing goals, personal obligations as well as my library tasks. My mind zips from one aspect of my life to another with lightning speed. It is my quirky way of getting organized.
My list this week:
- check the lyrics/artists in my wolf book to comply with music standards
- work on POV in chap. 4 of my historical, bk 3
- return 2 shirts I ordered
- mail baby cards to our friends
- get cotton balls and glue for storytime at the library
- add edit changes in synopsis of historical, bk 3
- finish cleaning the basement
- give 2 hours to WIP by the end of this week, wolf bk 3 - deadline May 20, 2011
- call kids about this weekend
- check e-mail - allow 10 minutes only
- check ___, ____, ____ publishers website
- decide if I want to enter the historical writing contest - deadline Feb. 1st.
- blog
My goals are mixed in with my work list. It's gratifying to be able to scratch out a few items as the week progresses. The remaining items on the list remind me to make the time to work on my priorities rather than wander about my office contemplating, also known as wasting time on which hurdle I should tackle today. The list is right there, I've already set my goals. It's now time to act on them. It's time to put my butt in the chair and get to work!
I suggest you do the same ~ get to work that is!!
Til next time ~
DL Larson
I let my fingers write as my mind wanders and before long I have a list of tasks before me. My current list is a mixture of writing goals, personal obligations as well as my library tasks. My mind zips from one aspect of my life to another with lightning speed. It is my quirky way of getting organized.
My list this week:
- check the lyrics/artists in my wolf book to comply with music standards
- work on POV in chap. 4 of my historical, bk 3
- return 2 shirts I ordered
- mail baby cards to our friends
- get cotton balls and glue for storytime at the library
- add edit changes in synopsis of historical, bk 3
- finish cleaning the basement
- give 2 hours to WIP by the end of this week, wolf bk 3 - deadline May 20, 2011
- call kids about this weekend
- check e-mail - allow 10 minutes only
- check ___, ____, ____ publishers website
- decide if I want to enter the historical writing contest - deadline Feb. 1st.
- blog
My goals are mixed in with my work list. It's gratifying to be able to scratch out a few items as the week progresses. The remaining items on the list remind me to make the time to work on my priorities rather than wander about my office contemplating, also known as wasting time on which hurdle I should tackle today. The list is right there, I've already set my goals. It's now time to act on them. It's time to put my butt in the chair and get to work!
I suggest you do the same ~ get to work that is!!
Til next time ~
DL Larson
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Goal by Morgan Mandel
Today I'm throwing out a few ideas about the first third of the important GMC in novels - Goal. (The other two are motivation and conflict, which we can explore later)
What your character's goals are tell the reader a lot about that character. Make sure you offer realistic and worthy goals, not only for the heroes and heroines, but also for the disreputable characters.
You can set short term, intermediate and long term goals for them, and even change the goals as occasions warrant.
My short term goal today was to get to work before another storm hit. I succeeded in that goal, by the way.
My intermediate goal is to make enough money to live off of. I'm managing, but it's not easy, with all the taxes and insurance to pay, plus all the incidentals I want, but don't really need.
My long term goal is to quit work and retire. That one is a very worthy goal, but so far I can't achieve it. Though my 62nd birthday is fast approaching, social security won't cover my expenses.
Some other goals of mine - short term - finish my my nano book which I'd put off finishing from 1 1/2 years ago about the country singer. Intermediate goal - finish my other two WIPS also, the Boomer book and the one about my dog Rascal. Intermediate - get them published either by myself, through an agent and/or a publisher. Long term goal - Best Seller. That one I may never achieve, but I can't help trying. (g)
What about you? What are some of your goals? or your character's?
Morgan Mandel
http://morganmandel.blogspot.com/
http://facebook.com/morgan.mandel
What your character's goals are tell the reader a lot about that character. Make sure you offer realistic and worthy goals, not only for the heroes and heroines, but also for the disreputable characters.
You can set short term, intermediate and long term goals for them, and even change the goals as occasions warrant.
My short term goal today was to get to work before another storm hit. I succeeded in that goal, by the way.
My intermediate goal is to make enough money to live off of. I'm managing, but it's not easy, with all the taxes and insurance to pay, plus all the incidentals I want, but don't really need.
My long term goal is to quit work and retire. That one is a very worthy goal, but so far I can't achieve it. Though my 62nd birthday is fast approaching, social security won't cover my expenses.
Some other goals of mine - short term - finish my my nano book which I'd put off finishing from 1 1/2 years ago about the country singer. Intermediate goal - finish my other two WIPS also, the Boomer book and the one about my dog Rascal. Intermediate - get them published either by myself, through an agent and/or a publisher. Long term goal - Best Seller. That one I may never achieve, but I can't help trying. (g)
What about you? What are some of your goals? or your character's?
Morgan Mandel
http://morganmandel.blogspot.com/
http://facebook.com/morgan.mandel
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