Oh my gosh, Rogenna. I'm totally into stickers. I have a calendar just for writing goals and when I achieve them, I give myself a sticker. On bad days, I look back through the calendar and feel motivated by all the stickers.
I thought I was the only one. Great advice.
Love the cover of Mitzi's Marine and can't wait to read it.
For me, taking the time to write is a reward in itself. When the pages are flowing, I don't need chocolate or anything else. (Maybe a little diet coke, but I'd drink that anyway).
I am trying not to think about how I will reward myself when I actually do finish and send out my ms for submission. Probably start working on the next one.
This takes my mind back to when my boys were so tiny and we'd have sticker charts on the fridge! I never thought of trying something similar for myself and my own writing goals but what a great idea...
It really helps my motivation to have some visual way of measuring my progress, but finding the right one took some doing!
I used to set word count goals and keep charts, but then it got disheartening during those times when I was doing a lot of writing stuff but not producing anything measurable in word count. Like brainstorming, or those editing days where I can spend all day writing and the word count goes backwards!
Now I use two charts- one is the Don't Break the Chain Calendar (downloaded free from Writersstore) where I get to put a star in the box every day I do something to move my writing forward (on day 50 now). If I miss a day, I have to start over again. Don't want to do that!
The other is a spreadsheet given to me by Kitty Buchholtz at a workshop I did with her in January. She's a fabulous teacher. BTW, I think she's doing a session at RWA this year. This has columns for all sorts of writing related activities. Word count gets points, but so does editing, researching, brainstorming, posting a writing related blog post, reading fiction, and time spent studying craft. For me, it reflects better all the different aspects that go into writing.
I love seeing my points score go up every day!
Of course, I need to make sure I am still writing too and not clocking up points just thinking about writing, so the charts's best used with some clear goals too- like finish the synopsis and the rewrite of chapter one by the end of February, and finish the partial by the end of March!
I track daily page/word count on a piece of paper. I'm using a steno book now instead of loose paper. Maybe I should get a colored paper steno tablet so it's prettier!
10 comments:
Oh my gosh, Rogenna. I'm totally into stickers. I have a calendar just for writing goals and when I achieve them, I give myself a sticker. On bad days, I look back through the calendar and feel motivated by all the stickers.
I thought I was the only one. Great advice.
Love the cover of Mitzi's Marine and can't wait to read it.
Kristin Noel Fischer
What?! Thank you!
Ro, I usually reach for chocolate as a reward. Stickers are less fattening. Great idea. Although I just know my son will give me a hard time. ;)
My grandkids love stickers...I save all I can for them...those in the photo are great looking ones.
For me, taking the time to write is a reward in itself. When the pages are flowing, I don't need chocolate or anything else. (Maybe a little diet coke, but I'd drink that anyway).
I am trying not to think about how I will reward myself when I actually do finish and send out my ms for submission. Probably start working on the next one.
This takes my mind back to when my boys were so tiny and we'd have sticker charts on the fridge! I never thought of trying something similar for myself and my own writing goals but what a great idea...
What a great idea, Rogenna. I never thought of doing that, even though I have sticker reward charts scattered throughout the house for my children.
The kids will think it's great if Mum has one besides theirs.
Rogenna,
Very nice idea and something I want to do immediately.
It really helps my motivation to have some visual way of measuring my progress, but finding the right one took some doing!
I used to set word count goals and keep charts, but then it got disheartening during those times when I was doing a lot of writing stuff but not producing anything measurable in word count. Like brainstorming, or those editing days where I can spend all day writing and the word count goes backwards!
Now I use two charts- one is the Don't Break the Chain Calendar (downloaded free from Writersstore) where I get to put a star in the box every day I do something to move my writing forward (on day 50 now). If I miss a day, I have to start over again. Don't want to do that!
The other is a spreadsheet given to me by Kitty Buchholtz at a workshop I did with her in January. She's a fabulous teacher. BTW, I think she's doing a session at RWA this year. This has columns for all sorts of writing related activities. Word count gets points, but so does editing, researching, brainstorming, posting a writing related blog post, reading fiction, and time spent studying craft. For me, it reflects better all the different aspects that go into writing.
I love seeing my points score go up every day!
Of course, I need to make sure I am still writing too and not clocking up points just thinking about writing, so the charts's best used with some clear goals too- like finish the synopsis and the rewrite of chapter one by the end of February, and finish the partial by the end of March!
Congrats on the critique win Patricia!
I track daily page/word count on a piece of paper. I'm using a steno book now instead of loose paper. Maybe I should get a colored paper steno tablet so it's prettier!
Marcie
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