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Original poster

New year, new writing resolutions?

23 replies

BitScary · 30/12/2013 15:08

So I've started a new book. Think this one will be a novel. Been sleeping horribly and getting up early to write -- feel like I can't settle until I get it all down. Very early days, though, I'm only about 8,000 words or so in. How's everyone doing? Any writing resolutions? Mine is simply to finish this. Even if I lose steam, if I hate it...I just want to finish it. I'll probably keep posting back here in an attempt to kick my own ass :)

OP posts:
HarpyFishwifeTwat · 01/01/2014 12:41

Write a short

HarpyFishwifeTwat · 01/01/2014 12:42

No - not a short post. Write the short story collection that has been bubbling in my head for a long time. Finish the novel I started last year. Let's see how that goes.

ninah · 01/01/2014 16:12

Resolution is to raise my standards. Not write more but write better.

Islenka · 01/01/2014 17:30

I also want to write more. Mine is a series of short children books and I also want to go out more often to get a few more ideas.

claudeekishi · 02/01/2014 15:32

(it's the OP here, have nc-d)

Good luck to everyone trying to finish work in 2014. Harpy is your short story collection themed?

ninah sometimes I really have to remind myself to keep pushing against the limits of what I think I can do with my writing. Too often I see a laziness creep in, falling back on tired tropes, that kind of thing. Constant vigilance against dropping standards is an excellent writing resolution.

RazaMeTimbers · 04/01/2014 20:08

I've been writing short stories and submitting to comps/mags all last year and had a few successes. So, this year I intend to continue to write and submit and also find an agent and editor for my novel (already on submission). Not a big ask then...

I'm currently writing a collection but not sure how that'll work out

I have an idea for a new novel but want it to be a GREAT idea before I start, and it's not quite hatched yet

claudeekishi · 05/01/2014 09:25

That's brilliant, Raza, and congrats on your successes last year. Sounds like you have loads going on to work with. Good luck!

RazaMeTimbers · 05/01/2014 12:45

Thanks claudeekishi, oh I just saw that you're the OP.

Well done on a new start. Do you have a routine to sit down every day/every weekend? I found that when I made that decision that everything got much easier. No matter what I sit down at 9am when the kids are gone to school. I realise I'm lucky to be able to do this. Last year I worked part-time but this year I'm not working at all, so hope to publish to avoid having to go back at some stage.

ninah, harpy, islenka, good luck with yours too

claudeekishi · 05/01/2014 13:39

Oh Raza that sounds wonderful, I am salivating at the thought of all that writing time. Delighted for you that you have this chance.

My child is not yet 2 and still naps. For a long time my routine was to write during her naptime because I work part-time in the mornings. Lately I've been getting up very early to work and I absolutely love this, the feeling of privacy. Early mornings are definitely special for writing time but the toll it takes is a bit hard! If I can do this 4-5 times a week I'm happy with myself. I'm dreading my back-to-work tomorrow. I've had a nice long break but I know it's going to be so busy in January and I'm just itching to keep writing!

Also hoping to find an agent this year once this novel takes shape a bit more.

TunipTheUnconquerable · 05/01/2014 17:17

Same as Ninah.
Keep striving to raise my game, not to rest on my laurels, not to get derailed by rejection or distraction.

AmericasTorturedBrow · 05/01/2014 17:20

I started a novel last year so I'm aiming to have it finished, redrafted and at the point in happy with it. DD is still a bad sleeper at 2yo so very jealous at those of you getting up early to write, I'd love to as I definately work better at dawn but sleep deprivation makes it impossible.

So I'm aiming, on weekdays, to write for half an hour a day, as I think that's manageable. I have the novel and a collection of poetry to work through

CallingAllEngels · 05/01/2014 17:30

My aim is to make more time to write regularly. 2013 didn't go well writing-wise for me. DS's sleep is also deteriorating Americas so getting up before him is difficult.

RazaMeTimbers · 05/01/2014 17:45

When my kids were small I just gave up writing for about 5 years. Honestly I thought it was too hard (and pointless!) so hats off to those of you with small children and still writing.

Mine are 13, 11 and 9 now so even when they're home, they're off doing their own thing and I can still work. Your time will come :)

Even if I have plenty of time to write, I find I'm really only productive for about an hour anyway. The rest of my time is spent planning/reading writing blogs/reading editor's sites etc

ninah · 06/01/2014 00:38

Good luck everyone!
Tunip that's exactly it. I am finally about to start CW course I keep putting off, am hoping it will help. Horrified after the holidays passed so quickly to find we have to actually send in some actual work by next week so it will definitely provide a kick up the pants if nothing else. In the past I've found critical feedback hard to come by; the best is invaluable. I think I'll need to keep a clear head as well as an open mind, though. Bit daunted!

claudeekishi · 06/01/2014 10:17

Americas, Calling and Raza: I know, I can't believe my luck tbh. DD was a crap sleeper for her first year and even six or eight months ago I would never have felt able to get up early before her. Now she sleeps loads, it's very strange (but very wonderful obviously). However she's still in a cot and I know it won't last forever so I'm trying to take advantage of this small period of time in which it does! I'd like to have another baby soonish and I do think that I'll just give myself a writing break if that happens for me, it's too much trying to do everything. I think that's why I feel so feverish right now, I know I'm writing on borrowed time.

Been working on a different thing recently for an upcoming deadline and it's sooooooooo frustrating, not going well for me. The will is there but the work just isn't lifting off the page the way I need it to! Being working up to this deadline for months and I'm massively annoyed that there's every chance I'll just have to let it pass without submitting. The novel is in the back of my mind but at the same time I have to get back into the submitting game, I've been out of it for ages and that's not always good.

ninah it all sounds really exciting, if daunting :)

ninah · 06/01/2014 11:27

it is really hard writing when children are small. I left my ex when dd was 6 months. I lived in an old isolated house with her and ds, 3, and I wrote to keep myself sane in the evenings. I think 50 words a day was my average yield Grin
Now they are older I'm more in the same zone as you, Raza. I am only working part time this year which helps a lot, but I find free time at weekends/holidays which never used to be available.

AmericasTorturedBrow · 06/01/2014 15:37

It's good to hear this from those of you whose DC area but bigger now - so setting myself small but achieveable goals whilst so sleep deprived maybe means I at least keep my hand in and my brain working until my time is my own again?!

ninah · 06/01/2014 17:19

Definitely! Smile

SunshineOnACrappyDay · 06/01/2014 17:22

My resolutions are to write more often, perhaps finding some kind of routine, and submit more of my poetry to competitions and magazines.

RazaMeTimbers · 09/01/2014 22:05

So how's everyone doing?

I've been going through stories I wrote before Christmas to see where they need work and made a plan today. That's next month all tied up!

claudeekishi · 09/01/2014 22:24

Still doing early mornings here but it's a whole lot more tiring now I'm back to work.

Still trying to salvage something for the submission I mentioned upthread - I think I will work on it for a couple of more days and then ignore it for a week, let it percolate.

Looking forward to opening up my novel WIP again while the other thing is percolating...just really hope I don't hate it when I do!

Another NY resolution of mine is to believe in what I'm doing a bit more -- or to fake belief if necessary, and to have loads of things lined up to work on if I get dejected about one thing in particular.

Good luck Raza and everyone. Really have to go to bed now...

RazaMeTimbers · 10/01/2014 07:25

claudeekishi, I've been there on the 'not lifting off the page' as it gets close to a deadline. I forced myself to finish and improved the piece greatly but then it was rejected. Still, all is not lost, I now have a better piece to re-work for next comp/deadline.

I have my eye on 3 or 4 competitions this year (the first being Davy Byrne's early Feb, although I don't think I'm quite at that calibre yet). I aim to win or be shortlisted in a BigName comp in 2014. Dreaming.

Also an agent has my full novel and should be getting back to me v soon (she's had it for 4 months!) so I'm biting my nails over that one too.

claudeekishi · 26/01/2014 14:46

How's everyone doing?

My 'not lifting off the page' piece is still not lifting, unfortunately. I'm trying to do as you did Raza and just keep going and prepare it for submission regardless. It will be roundly rejected but I just have to get back in the game otherwise I'll get paralysed by rejection fear. It's happened before...Are you working on new stories now, Raza?

Managed to open up my novel WIP briefly during the week and still felt positive about it. Still reaaaally early days but I am determined to get a first draft DONE before 2014 is out. Preferably well before 2014 is out.

Hope everyone is managing to get tiny bits done here and there.

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