If I looked back over my blog posts, I think I'd be unsurprised to find that many of them are a whinge of some kind. It's so easy to fall into that trap, perhaps, knowing that there are sympathetic souls who are fellow writers reading them, but it's probably not a good mind-set to have as default!
I'm not making a New Year's resolution to stop whingeing, because it's quite fun, but I am resolving to stop putting myself into a situation where I feel the need to whinge... quite so often.
After a few weeks off from writing, I realise that I have been putting myself under a lot of pressure.
Having had some success with short stories in the past year, I've been feeling a real horror of 'failing' and not having any more/as many accepted. Also, having decided to keep everything 'up front', I've engaged an accountant and submitted my tax return - but that has made me extra determined to keep the money coming in so that I have something to put on subsequent tax returns... don't want to be paying my accountant more than I'm earning! Also, as I've mentioned before, I've been bowing to other people's expectation that the next step is to write a novel and have tried in vain to fit this into my life (which is already quite full to be honest!)
It's time to take a step back!
My resolution is to write for profit and PLEASURE. I will write at my own speed, as and when I have time. I will try not to fret if I can't write for a few days. I may decide to write for three months and then have a month off to recharge. I'm setting no hard and fast rules, just some sensible guidelines.
This year has been a writiing rollercoaster ride, thrilling and depressing in turn. I aim for 2012's ride to be a little smoother.
Best of luck to those who are doing Sally Quilford's 100K in 100 Days. I'm probably opting out of that, but I'll be cheering you on and writing from the sidelines!
Wishing you all a very Happy New Year xx
6 comments:
I think that sounds good. It's easy to forget how much we enjoy writing when we're trying to do the 'business' side of it. Hope you have a great 2012.
Happy New Year, Linda!
I think sometimes we can put ourselves under an incredible amount of pressure and setting a goal to be aware of situations like that can only be a good thing.
I'm attempting Sally 100,000 words challenge, but the timing is good for me. I need to start on my second WIP.
Wishing you a happy 2012 Linda.
It is easy to to put too much pressure on ourselves and the exhaustion robs of us our initial pleaure derived from writing. I find that I feel fresh and much more eager to write when I take a break. My body and mind tell me when that time is and I do best to follow it.
Good luck this year and Happy New Year
Yes! Writing for pleasure should come first, we don't make that much of a profit :/ And don't worry about forcing yourself into a novel. I did it this past NaNoWriMo, despite my preference for short stories, and I'm not entirely pleased how it turned out. So I think I'm going to cut a whole lot out and write it as a novella or something. Write what you want, when you want, and things will come.
Happy New Year! This sounds like an awesome plan.. you're right.. we do put a LOT of pressure on ourselves and that can take the joy out of writing. Good luck with everything!
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