For the first time since starting this blog, I completed my manuscript writing before this post. I suppose that renders this post useless because I already did my writing for the day, but I’ll indulge myself in the self-analysis anyway.
Some things I’ve learned by forcing myself to write at least 300 words a day for a week straight:
It’s easier to keep working than it is to start fresh. I hate this because it means I’ve wasted so much time not writing this dang book after having the idea 4 years ago.
I need to be kinder to myself. There’s no use lamenting what could have been. The best thing I can do for myself now is to make sure I finish what I’ve started.
Setting an achievable goal and sticking to it matters. Sometimes I think 300 words a day is laughable. And because it feels like I’ll never finish, it’s so much easier to convince myself to quit. My job every day is to make sure I don’t.
It has to be fun (well, for the most part). If I don’t like what I’m working on why spend my time doing it?
The more I know myself the more likely I am able to fight my own excuses and remember my goals. After 30 years, you’d think I’d know that by now, but I’m still learning.
Of course, I’m not an expert after 7 days, so I suppose I should revisit this list after my set 6 months and see what I think then. And of course, you need to add the caveat “for me” to the ending of each of these statements and figure out if they ring true for you (because they very well may not). For now, though, I’ll consider this a win.
(# Of words I wrote for my manuscript today: 306)