It’s coming

Writo de Mayo is a month-long writing challenge that we host over the 31 days of May. Unlike NaNoWriMo we don’t all have the same goal (really, how often do we all have the shame goal in NaNo, even? /detour). Each participant sets their own goal and we, as a community, support each other in reaching them.

This year I’m going to take it back to the idea of being a team, a community. I’m not hosting any contests, I’m not giving any prizes away. In the past we’ve used them for motivation, but not this year. This year it’s about the writing. The friends. Not the frills.

How do you sign up for Writo de Mayo? That’s easy. Comment on this post and tell us what your goal is going to be. Starting in May we’ll have daily check-ins and be here for discussion, support, cheering, brainstorming — all that good stuff. Are you in?

~Rhonda

ETA: Try really hard to make your goal acheivable and concrete. “I want to write more” is a perfectly fantastic aspiration, but something more concrete is in order if you want to be able to a) track your progress and b) know, without question, if you’ve acheived your goal. “I want to write everyday” or “I want to write two short stories” for example, are concrete, though their acheivable-ness will depend on you and your life situation in May.

For this week’s Monday exercise, you won’t have to write any new words of fiction or poetry.  Write down your goals.

Studies have shown (or at least that’s what I’ve been told) goals are met when they are visible and seen often. 

• Make your goals doable so you’ll keep at them.  For example, instead of writing “I will be published this year” as your goal, use “I will send out 10 queries this year”.
• Review your goals periodically.  Determine if it’s best to see them once a week or once a month.  If you post them next to your computer monitor you may get so used to seeing them that you no longer do.

Good luck!  We’ll check in later to see your progress.
~Amber

It’s the middle of August. NaNoWriMo is closer than we think.

Whether you want to focus on current writing goals or making it over NaNoWriMo’s finish line, you need to have goals. The best ones are SMART ones.

Specific - Don’t be wishy washy as in “I’ll write when the mood strikes”. Be clear as in “I’ll write for 15 minutes a day for the next three weeks”.

Measurable – You should have concrete criteria for knowing if you met your goal or not. In the above example, you can mark on a calendar the days you wrote for 15 minutes.

Attainable- If the goal is something you really want to reach, you’ll move mountains to make it happen.  If you don’t have any free time, squeezing in those 15 minutes of writing may be difficult.  Figure out what obstacles are in your way and how you can get around them.

Realistic – Are you willing and able to reach your goal?  You’ve found those 15 minutes by limiting your morning routine to 20 minutes instead of 35.  You can focus on writing during the morning, right?

Timely or Tangible- If a goal is timely or has an end result that can be experienced with your senses, then you’re good to go.  Timely would be NaNoWriMo completed in 1 month.  Tangible would be a printed copy of your novel, a group of friends pretending to do a screen test for your novel or maybe you’ll throw a New Year’s Eve party and all the guests have to come dressed as a character from your novel.  Tangible can be wacky.

You can make little goals to help you towards your big goals.  For example, a lot of people do prep work prior to NaNoWriMo such as: jailing their inner editor, world building, creating a monetary system, sketching characters, making characters take personality tests, outlining the novel, stocking the freezer/pantry and setting up a reward system.

Good luck!
~Amber

I know everyone has been busy with holiday and New Year prep but take a few minutes for yourself to think about your writing goals for the upcoming year. 

Whatever your goals may be, remember to make them SMART:
Specific
Measurable
Attainable
Realistic
Timely

Good luck!  And have a Happy New Year!

(Posted by Amber – the web site cross-posts to LJ under Rhonda’s ID.)