If you read my journal from Jr. High (and no, that is so not an offer) you'd think I'd done nothing but read. Every daily post talks about the book I'd just finished. I vividly remember my English teacher in 8th grade asking us to list the books we'd read over the summer, and I taking such pride in having the longest list.
I'll admit, I don't read like I used to. A mom of three boys doesn't have time to read a book a day.
However, when I do have spare time, I find myself flipping through my email, Facebook, and People.com like I would with the channels on T.V.
Such wasted time.
Linda Sue Park, awarding winning author of A Single Shard and A Long Walk To Water, has said to think of doctors, lawyers, and plumbers. Think how long they've trained for their profession. How many hours they've put into studying.
Reading, is an authors way of studying. Park credits her hours of reading to let her know when she's written a mediocre sentence.
So, I'm making another goal. To read two books a week. Unless, of coarse, its an exceptionally long book. Then it'll just be one book a week.
Goodbye obsessive checking of email, Facebook, and People.com. (I really love People.com)
Weekly Manuscript Writing Goal - 4800 words
Current Words Written - 3483
Reading Goal - finish The Sisters Grimm (Book 1) by Saturday night
Showing posts with label goals. Show all posts
Showing posts with label goals. Show all posts
Friday, February 4, 2011
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Becoming An Author Each Day
"We become what we want to be by consistently being what we want to become each day."
-Richard G. Scott
Yeah, I kinda suck at that. You know, the whole actually doing what we need to so we become what we want to EACH day.
Wow, that felt very irreverent to put the word 'suck' in the same post as a Richard G. Scott quote. But there's no other word that I can think of to describe just how horrible I am at doing something EACH day.
I know of published writers who consistently write each day (weekends, holidays, and birthdays included). And then there are others that write in large spurts after seasons of drouts. Obviously, it works both ways.
With me I've noticed that if I write every day I think about my book more throughout the day, and I'm excited to write again the next day. But if I don't write every day then writing becomes a chore.
Jeni, in my critique group, gave me the great idea of having a weekly word goal. So, on those crazy days when you only have time to maybe write a paragraph (and that's pushing it) you are still reaching for a goal that week.
My goal this week is 3500. I have 1482 already written.
What are your goals that you are working on (writing or not). And how do you work at attaining them?
-Richard G. Scott
Yeah, I kinda suck at that. You know, the whole actually doing what we need to so we become what we want to EACH day.
Wow, that felt very irreverent to put the word 'suck' in the same post as a Richard G. Scott quote. But there's no other word that I can think of to describe just how horrible I am at doing something EACH day.
I know of published writers who consistently write each day (weekends, holidays, and birthdays included). And then there are others that write in large spurts after seasons of drouts. Obviously, it works both ways.
With me I've noticed that if I write every day I think about my book more throughout the day, and I'm excited to write again the next day. But if I don't write every day then writing becomes a chore.
Jeni, in my critique group, gave me the great idea of having a weekly word goal. So, on those crazy days when you only have time to maybe write a paragraph (and that's pushing it) you are still reaching for a goal that week.
My goal this week is 3500. I have 1482 already written.
What are your goals that you are working on (writing or not). And how do you work at attaining them?
Sunday, January 23, 2011
My Life As A Writer
For the past five years I've dabbled in writing.
Here and there I'd write a partial manuscript, only to give up when it became too frustrating.
I'd attend a writer's conference, feed off the energy and resolve to write more. But of coarse, the conference energy would fizzle and die, right along with my writing goals.
But then the best thing happened. It took four and a half years, but I found a constructive writers group that literally meets a mile from my home. Who would think finding a good writers group would be difficult? But it is. To find writers who have the same goals and inspire you by their determination is a lot harder than most would think.
Once a month we meet. We critique each others manuscripts, talk about books we've read, and encourage each other. And each month I am rejuvenated in my goal to write.
Except for last night. As I read everyone else's manscripts my frustration in my own writing grew. I've learned so much, but connecting what I've learned into my writing is extremely difficult. And I know its because I've spent more time learning and not enough time doing.
So this blog will mark the beginning my journey of self discovery as an author. I hesitate to call myself that. An AUTHOR. Who am I to call myself that? And then, like Gaylene quoting Martine Leavitt last night, "I'm a Child of God." And because I know that, I know I can do anything I want if I put in the time and the work. And I want to be an author.
Here and there I'd write a partial manuscript, only to give up when it became too frustrating.
I'd attend a writer's conference, feed off the energy and resolve to write more. But of coarse, the conference energy would fizzle and die, right along with my writing goals.
But then the best thing happened. It took four and a half years, but I found a constructive writers group that literally meets a mile from my home. Who would think finding a good writers group would be difficult? But it is. To find writers who have the same goals and inspire you by their determination is a lot harder than most would think.
Once a month we meet. We critique each others manuscripts, talk about books we've read, and encourage each other. And each month I am rejuvenated in my goal to write.
Except for last night. As I read everyone else's manscripts my frustration in my own writing grew. I've learned so much, but connecting what I've learned into my writing is extremely difficult. And I know its because I've spent more time learning and not enough time doing.
So this blog will mark the beginning my journey of self discovery as an author. I hesitate to call myself that. An AUTHOR. Who am I to call myself that? And then, like Gaylene quoting Martine Leavitt last night, "I'm a Child of God." And because I know that, I know I can do anything I want if I put in the time and the work. And I want to be an author.
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