Accountability (specifically how to be accountable to myself) has been heavy on my mind lately. Writing has always been my goal, though it's never been the main thing for me. Circumstances have changed though and I have an opportunity to use a window of a few hours each weekday on my writing. Ironically, now that I have that time, I've found it harder than ever to stick to a writing schedule - to show up for my writing, for myself. I'm looking forward to the #1000Wordsofsummer as a way to really settle in and make my daily writing practice a life long commitment to myself.
I relate to this so much! When I have more time to write, I seem to write less. Or at least it's harder for me to start. Maybe those of us who relate can be silent accountability partners for each other :)
Right now my newsletter is holding me accountable. This is a major step for me. Not anywhere near where I’d like to be, but I have to walk before I can run I suppose.
Love this! It’s so familiar. Currently treating writing like a job until it becomes one.
For me, it’s creating what I think of is flywheels. I want to regularly be submitting to literary magazines and contests. So I have two spreadsheets, one of publications and upcoming deadlines, the other of pieces in need of a home or in a literary journal’s inbox. I want to grow my connections and readership on Substack. so I plan an editorial calendar for the next few months. I’m in the book proposal stage of a memoir so I list the various sections. I will need to compose. I, too, write early. Knowing the various projects I want to give my time to helps me split it between them (plus new starts) and make the best use of the time I can carve out.
Thanks for this piece, Jami, and for the opportunity to reflect on my own process.
It’s been hard to juggle word count goals with life lately but I’ve committed to my writing days and at least touching the manuscript daily - whether it’s notes or outline or a couple of paragraphs, hopefully setting myself up well for May 31st!
I admire all the thoughts you put into words that so many of us have and accountability is one of them. I know I want to write, why am I holding myself back from doing so? But I also see accountability as a writer as being what I put out into the world. Am I writing something others can relate to? Makes them think? Is that my goal or is it to write something that is light and entertaining? I think knowing what I hope to do as a writer is an important step in determining what I want to write.
Accountability for me is applying ass to chair five days a week and writing. My philosophy is writers write. Period. The more you do it, the better you become.
Accountability (specifically how to be accountable to myself) has been heavy on my mind lately. Writing has always been my goal, though it's never been the main thing for me. Circumstances have changed though and I have an opportunity to use a window of a few hours each weekday on my writing. Ironically, now that I have that time, I've found it harder than ever to stick to a writing schedule - to show up for my writing, for myself. I'm looking forward to the #1000Wordsofsummer as a way to really settle in and make my daily writing practice a life long commitment to myself.
I relate to this so much! When I have more time to write, I seem to write less. Or at least it's harder for me to start. Maybe those of us who relate can be silent accountability partners for each other :)
Yes! It's like my nervous system doesn't know what to do with the wide open timeline. Apparently I work well under pressure.
Right now my newsletter is holding me accountable. This is a major step for me. Not anywhere near where I’d like to be, but I have to walk before I can run I suppose.
Love this! It’s so familiar. Currently treating writing like a job until it becomes one.
For me, it’s creating what I think of is flywheels. I want to regularly be submitting to literary magazines and contests. So I have two spreadsheets, one of publications and upcoming deadlines, the other of pieces in need of a home or in a literary journal’s inbox. I want to grow my connections and readership on Substack. so I plan an editorial calendar for the next few months. I’m in the book proposal stage of a memoir so I list the various sections. I will need to compose. I, too, write early. Knowing the various projects I want to give my time to helps me split it between them (plus new starts) and make the best use of the time I can carve out.
Thanks for this piece, Jami, and for the opportunity to reflect on my own process.
It’s been hard to juggle word count goals with life lately but I’ve committed to my writing days and at least touching the manuscript daily - whether it’s notes or outline or a couple of paragraphs, hopefully setting myself up well for May 31st!
❤️💪
I admire all the thoughts you put into words that so many of us have and accountability is one of them. I know I want to write, why am I holding myself back from doing so? But I also see accountability as a writer as being what I put out into the world. Am I writing something others can relate to? Makes them think? Is that my goal or is it to write something that is light and entertaining? I think knowing what I hope to do as a writer is an important step in determining what I want to write.
Accountability for me is applying ass to chair five days a week and writing. My philosophy is writers write. Period. The more you do it, the better you become.