I'm in the thick of revising the second draft of my memoir. I'm taking about an hour, maybe two if I have it, first thing in the morning after my kids go to school.
That's when I sift through each paragraph and clean up the words. I'm also basing this on some edits a friend of mine sent me. (She is a professional editor.)
Good things take time. And good things take time away from other good things. I'm going to let my second draft simmer a while after I've combed through it - maybe two weeks - and then I'll revisit it again, hopefully with fresh eyes.
"And good things take time away from other good things." This reminds me of something I once read about saying yes to one thing means say no to another. I try to remember this when I say yes to do something other than my writing (it inevitably means I'm saying 'no' to writing during that time instead). Love the simplicity of sifting through paragraphs -- that feels like such a perfect representation of a small, tangible step towards a much larger goal. xx
Thank you for your words, inquiries, and inspo. I'm going to use the 3-5 pm window also to make progress on a book outline and time for generative creation. I'll be writing in virtual spirit with you in SF!
This is right on time—thank you! I’ve been writing a weekly newsletter and struggling with writer’s block. The idea to set a certain amount of time to work on it and/or a word count is simple yet brilliant!
BTW, love the ice bath example. My big goal is to write a book. I have many book ideas. I want to take some steps ahead to explore actually writing them :)
- Schedule out my Substack posts on a content calendar at least two weeks in advance (I usually dedicate one four hour block per week to write my posts and edit drafts)
- Sign up for a fiction course and dedicate 2 hours per week to work on my book
- Finish reading The Creative Act before it's due at the library!
Love this!! I have a fiction course recommendation if you need one - it’s with Chelsea Bieker and is a novel generating class in a couple of weeks (will share in the next newsletter as well)
My goal is to self-publish a collection of essays at the end of the year. I am going to start this process by giving myself an hour daily (either before my daughter wakes up or after I put her to sleep). Since I only can squeeze an hour alone, if I'm lucky, I am also going to incorporate a daily walk through the woods as my work. Nature not only inspires my writing but is often the subject matter, so these walks will help fuel my writing practice. My dog will definitely be excited about the extra walk too!
Yes Go Kayti! :) Please share more about your manuscript if you feel like it ;)
For the next 4 weeks, I have to main goals : edit the V1 of my book from my editor's comments AND I would like to plan, create and choose a launch date for a new offering (selling personalized poems for making any occasion special)
Love this!! I find having two projects in the works is actually so helpful to making progress so I don't feel entirely consumed by both. Can't wait to hear more about your new offering!
Manuscript is still very early stages, but I'm working on a memoir about IVF/our infertility experience.
I’m so excited for your new 3pm-5pm plan for yourself. I recently found time and not output to be a far happier and more productive mindset for me. And I developed such affection for that block of time.
Right now I’m waiting for notes back on a project and I’m really struggling with not tinkering in the meanwhile and the fear that if it takes too long to hear back I’ll lose my momentum and focus. Really having to breathe through that and trust my future self.
Thanks for sharing Kayti! My end goal/big project feels too overwhelming to think about. I'm a visual artist and writer in the psychology/mental health/lived experiences space and I've recently set a smaller goal to build up creative writing pieces to then set up a substack newsletter, which will eventually be part of a larger project but currently in a work situ that feels too chaotic to create! I like the idea of setting a regular schedule - so even without 'motivation,' it's still setting time (however small) to show up.
Good luck with the book! Looking forward to hearing about your progress.
Thanks for sharing, Jo! I'm such a "big picture" person and I totally get the overwhelm that comes with thinking about everything you want to do / how it will come together. I hope the small steps idea can help us both, however and whenever your time allows - with you in spirit! xx
Go Kaity! I’m also in the process of drawing something- in my case, I’ve decided on a handbuilt vase with flowers since I’m a potter in my spare time - every day for 100 days. There is this #the100dayproject on Instagram - a hashtag but also an Instagram page - that inspired me to start, to keep going. I’m right today at day 32. What I’ve learned in the process is 1) to leave the judgment aside and just make something; 2) to share it anyway just to silence the fear of not being good enough; 3) to enjoy that time as time I dedicate to my creativity. Thanks for adding this newsletter, I will be here to ask you “How’s your writing going?” Good luck and have fun!
Thank you for this! I really want to create a writing routine for working on my newsletter. Right now I feel a little overwhelmed, but this was a reminder for me to continue to take things slow and that small steps on a consistent basis will help me reach my goals.
Thank you, Kayti. This is such an excellent idea.
I'm in the thick of revising the second draft of my memoir. I'm taking about an hour, maybe two if I have it, first thing in the morning after my kids go to school.
That's when I sift through each paragraph and clean up the words. I'm also basing this on some edits a friend of mine sent me. (She is a professional editor.)
Good things take time. And good things take time away from other good things. I'm going to let my second draft simmer a while after I've combed through it - maybe two weeks - and then I'll revisit it again, hopefully with fresh eyes.
In the meantime, I'll work on my Substack essays.
"And good things take time away from other good things." This reminds me of something I once read about saying yes to one thing means say no to another. I try to remember this when I say yes to do something other than my writing (it inevitably means I'm saying 'no' to writing during that time instead). Love the simplicity of sifting through paragraphs -- that feels like such a perfect representation of a small, tangible step towards a much larger goal. xx
Thank you for your words, inquiries, and inspo. I'm going to use the 3-5 pm window also to make progress on a book outline and time for generative creation. I'll be writing in virtual spirit with you in SF!
Yay!! Will be thinking of you Lindy and writing along in spirit xx
This is right on time—thank you! I’ve been writing a weekly newsletter and struggling with writer’s block. The idea to set a certain amount of time to work on it and/or a word count is simple yet brilliant!
BTW, love the ice bath example. My big goal is to write a book. I have many book ideas. I want to take some steps ahead to explore actually writing them :)
My goals:
- Schedule out my Substack posts on a content calendar at least two weeks in advance (I usually dedicate one four hour block per week to write my posts and edit drafts)
- Sign up for a fiction course and dedicate 2 hours per week to work on my book
- Finish reading The Creative Act before it's due at the library!
Thanks for having me here :)
Love this!! I have a fiction course recommendation if you need one - it’s with Chelsea Bieker and is a novel generating class in a couple of weeks (will share in the next newsletter as well)
Thank you, Kayti!
My goal is to self-publish a collection of essays at the end of the year. I am going to start this process by giving myself an hour daily (either before my daughter wakes up or after I put her to sleep). Since I only can squeeze an hour alone, if I'm lucky, I am also going to incorporate a daily walk through the woods as my work. Nature not only inspires my writing but is often the subject matter, so these walks will help fuel my writing practice. My dog will definitely be excited about the extra walk too!
This sounds perfect! I can’t wait to hear how it goes and see your essay collection out in the world this year
Yes Go Kayti! :) Please share more about your manuscript if you feel like it ;)
For the next 4 weeks, I have to main goals : edit the V1 of my book from my editor's comments AND I would like to plan, create and choose a launch date for a new offering (selling personalized poems for making any occasion special)
Love this!! I find having two projects in the works is actually so helpful to making progress so I don't feel entirely consumed by both. Can't wait to hear more about your new offering!
Manuscript is still very early stages, but I'm working on a memoir about IVF/our infertility experience.
I’m so excited for your new 3pm-5pm plan for yourself. I recently found time and not output to be a far happier and more productive mindset for me. And I developed such affection for that block of time.
Right now I’m waiting for notes back on a project and I’m really struggling with not tinkering in the meanwhile and the fear that if it takes too long to hear back I’ll lose my momentum and focus. Really having to breathe through that and trust my future self.
I'm glad to hear this Nicole! This will be my first time using the time model and I'm excited to notice any differences in how I approach the writing.
I hear you on the tinkering and waiting period. Do you have any new or smaller projects to distract you in the meantime?
Very inspiring! Thanks as always, Kayti. Also - can't wait for your book. Go you!
Just outlined my small steps for the week.
Thanks for sharing Kayti! My end goal/big project feels too overwhelming to think about. I'm a visual artist and writer in the psychology/mental health/lived experiences space and I've recently set a smaller goal to build up creative writing pieces to then set up a substack newsletter, which will eventually be part of a larger project but currently in a work situ that feels too chaotic to create! I like the idea of setting a regular schedule - so even without 'motivation,' it's still setting time (however small) to show up.
Good luck with the book! Looking forward to hearing about your progress.
Thanks for sharing, Jo! I'm such a "big picture" person and I totally get the overwhelm that comes with thinking about everything you want to do / how it will come together. I hope the small steps idea can help us both, however and whenever your time allows - with you in spirit! xx
Go Kaity! I’m also in the process of drawing something- in my case, I’ve decided on a handbuilt vase with flowers since I’m a potter in my spare time - every day for 100 days. There is this #the100dayproject on Instagram - a hashtag but also an Instagram page - that inspired me to start, to keep going. I’m right today at day 32. What I’ve learned in the process is 1) to leave the judgment aside and just make something; 2) to share it anyway just to silence the fear of not being good enough; 3) to enjoy that time as time I dedicate to my creativity. Thanks for adding this newsletter, I will be here to ask you “How’s your writing going?” Good luck and have fun!
Yay for day 32! That's incredible. I hope you're super proud of yourself. Thanks for these tips, Ale! xoxo
Thank you for this! I really want to create a writing routine for working on my newsletter. Right now I feel a little overwhelmed, but this was a reminder for me to continue to take things slow and that small steps on a consistent basis will help me reach my goals.
Thank you so much for including me here, Kayti!