Sunday 4 October 2015

Setting New Targets...

After a couple of days relaxing- well sort of- I'm planning the week ahead so that I can get back to writing those last couple of chapters.

As much as I've enjoyed writing the contemporary romance, it will never be my first preference- unless an idea could only work in the present.

I'm really looking forward to getting back to my Nottinghamshire story before the end of the year; the competition entry reminded me why I enjoy it so much.

October is usually when I start considering my goals for next year.

Having put in the intensive work revising and editing the first chapter I learnt a few things about myself.


  • I can too easily procrastinate and end up wasting the day. So I'm going to set myself mini-targets for each day. No dawdling...


Of course there will be days when less will get done than others, as real life does still have to be taken into account: appointments, shopping for food, collecting medicines, get-together's with writer friends and those unexpected crisis etc.


  • Do those elements that can be classed under 'professional development'.


In some ways I've been doing this a while. Attending writers' conferences, online events, workshops, talks, and other opportunities.

I'm part of the Wednesday evening #writingchat sessions on Twitter for one hour- it's fun, but I've also picked up helpful information from the other writers taking part.

Recently I've joined Anne Rainbow's RedPen (thanks to a link provided by Patsy Collins).


  • Be more open to opportunities that occur and not be scared to take them on. 



  • Most of all I'm going to believe in myself. Entering the recent new talent competition has definitely contributed toward that.


I think that's enough to keep me going for the next twelve months... :-)



My Targets...




















Image courtesy of Vaximilian and www.freedigitalphotos.net

7 comments:

Wendy's Writing said...

It will be a wonderful feeling when you get those last few chapters written, Carol. Interesting that you've found by writing it that a contemporary romance isn't your first love. Setting goals is good - I know what you mean about the 'wasting the day' thing.

Carolb said...

Well day one of the new plan is working so far, Wendy. :-)

I've started chapter 16 and almost completed the first scene, so I now just need to keep working on it...

Patsy said...

I'm excellent at procrastination too, Carol! I like the mini targets idea and do something similar myself. I have a list of tasks to achieve, some quite big, others things which just take a few minutes. That means that however busy I am, or however lazy I'm feeling I usually manage to cross something off.

Glad the link was useful!

Rosemary Gemmell said...

Sounds like a good plan, Carol - I'm another one who excels at procrastination now and then! All the best with those final chapters.

Carolb said...

I think I just need to get the rest of the family tuned into the new system, Patsy, so they don't derail it. :)

Carolb said...

Thanks, Rosemary. I've had the final chapters lurking in my brain for a few weeks now, so I'm anxious to get them into the document. :-)

Maxi said...

Sounds like you have a great plan there, Carol. I love the idea of mini goals, alongside the larger ones. Sometimes we can get hung up on the latter, and beat ourselves up when we have actually achieved plenty! Great idea! Good luck on diving back into your Nottinghamshire story - enjoy!