Works in progress July 2022 Update

How to Form Good Writing Habits

Early in the year I stated my goals. I believe it was in this post where I said I was going to publish 4 books this year. 

Well, I published 1 book so far! Yay!

Redeeming Senpai has been released!

But I think that's all I'm going to release in 2022. 

Why?

Because despite my best efforts, I have not gotten into the good habit of writing, editing and such in a consistent way. Which means that nothing is ready.

However, I have organized myself with my Ultimate Editing Revisions Release Marketing Plan Worksheet. That's the actual name of the spreadsheet. 

So what's in all this for you?

Books!​

Finding My Way to Good Writing Habits

Just Do It. 

So easy, right? 

Well, I struggle. While I sit there in the morning, I get to decide what to do for the day. If I have editing calls, I usually write or edit until those calls in the mid-morning. There are so many things to get done during the day that I've tried to make a daily time tracker with calculating all the things I want to do during the day. I've got the Toggl Track app on my phone to track my time. I try to do only the needful things.

I've tried these things but the issue is doing it all. Sometimes writing/blogging/newslettering takes a backseat. But I like keeping a journal like this and talking to my list so I can't stay away for too long. 

If you're looking for a checklist to find your way to good writing habits, this is not the post you're looking for. 

This is more of a conversation about how I struggle in cramming everything I want to do in one day. A conversation I hope to give you and myself insight on how to conquer this beast. And it is a daily dragon to slay. Or have your way with. Kinna like my character in the dragon story I'm writing. 

 But that's for another time. 

Going to my Groups for Advice

I went to my peers and asked for suggestions on how to keep myself writing. I do have a bullets list for this for those that love scanning articles for the "magic bullet". But only those that read the whole post might get the benefit of my conversations with others. 

I've also found that scanning for the magic bullet just means I already know what to do and yet am looking for that one thing that might make all the other nonsmexy things work. Like I don't have to do all those other things but can do this one thing to short cut everything else. 

Squirrel! 

Let me come back before I go off on that tangent! So here's the skinny: 

• List of To-Do's
• Block off time
• Prioritize Admin/High yield tasks
• Work Atmosphere
• Scheduling around High Volume Interruptions
• Sacrificing Time such as working during lunch or getting up earlier
• Know Thyself, meaning if you write well in the mornings write in the mornings

I got a lot of outreach that said others struggle with this balance too so I'm in good company. But they were so supportive and gave me great ideas. 

For some their days are stagnant. They can schedule days to make them look the same. I love that my life is a little more chaotic than that. Stability is awesome, but it can lead to stagnation. That's at least one issue I don't think I'll have. There is plenty going on around my 27 acres that takes me away from the monotony. 

Plus, I have two Huskies and a German Shepard that won't let me sit on my tushy for too long. 

If anyone has suggestions for me, tell me your secret and I'll add it to the list! For now, I'll keep doing what I'm doing! 

Until next time...
...happy reading! 

​~ Stephy