I'm glad to see the backside of 2011. There have been good things about the year, and there have been some very unpleasant things about it. (In other words, it was another year of life, lived.)
So below are random thoughts from a chaotic mind on how 2011 summed up:
Out of the Mouths of Babes:
"Jesus has a lock on you."
One of my junior highers in Sunday School uttered these greatest words of wisdom for 2011. A perfect reminder that if we know Him as our Lord and Savior, nothing can snatch us from His hand (a lesson I sometimes forget).
The Power of Video and YouTube:
Expressed in 2 significant ways this year. One was the viral video of Micah the laughing baby which you can see here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RP4abiHdQpc&noredirect=1
I'm not one for oohing and aahing over babies, but you'd have to be dead not to be affected by Micah's infectious laughter.
The other was the powerful video of the Federal Express delivery guy ending his career with one toss of a box:
http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/events/fed-ex-delivery-video
The first video, a reminder to enjoy life's simple pleasures. The second, an equally powerful reminder that the decisions we make every day, even the seemingly small ones, can have a significant impact on ourselves and others.
Just as E-readers are opening opportunities for readers, the fact that it is becoming easier for the average Joe to have filming opportunities is an exciting development in technology. I'll get to my 35mm camera lament a little further down, but one of the exciting aspects of digital photography is being able to shoot short video as well.
The Benefits and Liabilities of Technological Advances:
The Glory:
E-Readers: Having a Kindle has transformed my reading life and made books more affordable. I've downloaded about 275+ books this year. I didn't even top 10 books purchased last year. E-readers make it possible to put more books at your fingertips.
Online Classes: I took my first online classes this year which made it possible for me to continue my education in a way that is more suitable to my hectic lifestyle. I wish the option had been open to me years ago. I think some classes are still more conducive to an in-class setting, but wherever possible, I'm going for the online version.
The Defeat:
Grieving the loss of 35mm photography. One of the biggest shockers of the year for me was going to get four rolls of 35mm film developed and 1) finding how difficult it was to FIND anyone who developed 35mm film still and 2) how ultra-expensive it was to develop 35mm film, thereby forcing me to send my beloved Canon EOS Rebel 35mm SLR into retirement. Not only that, I now must begin the lengthy education process on digital photography and searching for a digital camera. I am sure I will love digital photography once I get used to it, but I am very grieved to let my 35mm SLR go.
Grief and Suffering:-
There has been a phenomenal amount of suffering seen in the steep increase in behavioral health care sought out this year as opposed to previous years I've been in the field. There are a lot of people who are really hurting, and it's manifesting itself physically and mentally.
- There are a lot of people without jobs, and a lot of people trapped in jobs they feel powerless to get out of. Both scenarios are painful.
- A Downer Christmas 2011: We close the door on Christmas 2011 with suffering and heartache--a loss in the church family, and the equally sudden and unexpected loss of a friend and crit partner, leaving both families with grief for Christmas, not smiles and celebration.
Best Good Guys Win Moment:
After the years of terrorism and warfare, it was a great shot in the arm as Navy SEALs and others took out Osama Bin Laden on May 1st of this year. Nope, it doesn't end terrorism, and he was just one fish in the sea, but Americans needed some small form of closure to all the pain and suffering caused by the 9/11 attacks.
Best Fictional Moment of 2011:
The best fictional moment of 2011 did not come from a book. It came from film and it was so inspirational to me that it gave me the impetus to keep fighting forward in 2012 with my writing. That would be the final 3-4 minutes of episode 2.10 of Hawaii Five-0. Team and buddy stories are my ultimate favorite, and this helicopter scene was just about pure perfection. Comraderie, team spirit, striving for a greater good, making sacrifices--this short scene had it all and will be one of the best of the entire series and one of the best in all television period.
Oh I love it when you see something so powerful it becomes a great and deep well for you to draw from!
Most Surprising Progress:
Though the year has felt non-productive from a creative standpoint, I was surprised to learn I'd written nearly 125,000 words this year. Which is a reminder God is faithful, even when day to day I act like He's not. It's also a reminder to keep plunking down words on paper, even if you feel like your wheels are spinning.
What does it mean to note these highlights of 2011? Maybe just to say it was another year in the life of fallible human beings. Victories. Defeats. And sprinkles of good and bad things that fell somewhere in between.
May we learn from our past and move forward into 2012 determined to be the people God has called us to be.
Showing posts with label writing goals. Show all posts
Showing posts with label writing goals. Show all posts
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Monday, December 12, 2011
Surprising Word Count Progress in 2011
I have to admit, I enter the end of this year utterly (and pleasantly) surprised. By the time December 31st rolls around, I will have gotten over 125,000 words down on paper this year! 8-)
The only negative to that is that those 125,000 words are spread over four different projects, which means I did not complete any one manuscript. But this has been a phenomenal breakthrough for me, if you consider that this is more than THREE TIMES as many words as I got in last year (and last year was far better than the previous several years).
When people give aspiring writers advice and tell them that the process of building a writing career takes years, it is no joke. I started seriously pursuing writing in 2002, initially with screenplays then switched to my true love, novels, in 2005. And from the time I switched to novel writing, it took me SIX YEARS to complete my first manuscript.
Now there's no rule that says you can't take six years to write a book. But I ain't gettin' any younger. 8-) I had actually hoped to finish the first draft of a complete manuscript this year, but it wasn't meant to be. But I still got a whole lot closer than I ever have before.
Now what remains is to decide how to set my writing goals for 2012. I'll get to that on the next post.
I'm just elated (and very grateful) that during all the hardships and tremendous stresses of this year, that even so, I managed to get a solid word count in. Besides reminding me that I am blessed (no matter how ungrateful I act toward God sometimes), it also proves to me that though sometimes it doesn't feel like I'm making any progress, I HAVE been diligent in pursuing my career with all the means I can muster, in the midst of many other responsibilities. It is also proof that you can find time to write when you want it bad enough.
Now on to setting those 2012 writing goals...
The only negative to that is that those 125,000 words are spread over four different projects, which means I did not complete any one manuscript. But this has been a phenomenal breakthrough for me, if you consider that this is more than THREE TIMES as many words as I got in last year (and last year was far better than the previous several years).
When people give aspiring writers advice and tell them that the process of building a writing career takes years, it is no joke. I started seriously pursuing writing in 2002, initially with screenplays then switched to my true love, novels, in 2005. And from the time I switched to novel writing, it took me SIX YEARS to complete my first manuscript.
Now there's no rule that says you can't take six years to write a book. But I ain't gettin' any younger. 8-) I had actually hoped to finish the first draft of a complete manuscript this year, but it wasn't meant to be. But I still got a whole lot closer than I ever have before.
Now what remains is to decide how to set my writing goals for 2012. I'll get to that on the next post.
I'm just elated (and very grateful) that during all the hardships and tremendous stresses of this year, that even so, I managed to get a solid word count in. Besides reminding me that I am blessed (no matter how ungrateful I act toward God sometimes), it also proves to me that though sometimes it doesn't feel like I'm making any progress, I HAVE been diligent in pursuing my career with all the means I can muster, in the midst of many other responsibilities. It is also proof that you can find time to write when you want it bad enough.
Now on to setting those 2012 writing goals...
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Writing A Novel In Cycles
ACFW's NovelTrack has inspired me. This program launched in July of this year. It is similar to Nanowrimo. The idea is that four times a year, writers are encouraged to sign up with a word count goal for that month then have at it.
I did it for the first time in October. And came close to achieving my word count goal (a family crisis shaved off the tail-end of my goal). As I was looking at the NovelTrack calendar and my own previous years' writing statistics, I discovered something interesting. NovelTrack's writing months are January, April, July, and October. What I learned is that these are statistically my most productive writing months of the year (2010 being an exception b/c it was filled with low productivity as a whole).
I've also been thinking about what I learned about the novel writing process of my first manuscript (which I just finished after six years). One of the things I feel very strongly about is that while it may be okay to take a few years to complete a manuscript, for me it was detrimental to take so long to complete the first draft. With my first novel, there would be lapses of month between spurts of first drafting the manuscript--probably over the course of a couple years.
I would like to try a different tack in 2011. Couple that with the fact that I have felt a very strong urge to push myself hard next year on my writing, and you have a new writing action plan for 2011. I don't know if it will work or not. I only know my previous method wasn't the most ideal.
As mentioned, NovelTrack-Writing occurs in January, April, July and October. NovelTrack-Editing (setting goals for editing your manuscript) will occur during the months of March, June, September, and December.
I also have to allow huge amounts of time for research PLUS I want there to be a gap of time between when I write and when I pick it up again to edit.
So, here's my action plan for 2011:
WRITING:-----RESEARCH:----EDITING:
January----------February----------March
April--------------May---------------June
July---------------August------------September
October-----------November--------December
What that means is I have structure for my goals and will cycle through the process of write/research/edit four times next year.
Hopefully, that will equate to a better first draft, and enough time between tasks to keep the story fresh and alive to me and to prevent me from stagnating on one thing as I am so often bound to do.
I'm planning a high monthly word count goal and it's going to be extremely difficult, especially given the magnitude of the stress level at work these days. But I think I need to push hard, in more ways than one, to make it to the next level as a writer.
I'm looking forward to the writing possibilities for 2011. And I pray that cycling through the manuscript in this way which shave a few years off my time to completion. Guess we'll find out about this time next year. 8-)
I did it for the first time in October. And came close to achieving my word count goal (a family crisis shaved off the tail-end of my goal). As I was looking at the NovelTrack calendar and my own previous years' writing statistics, I discovered something interesting. NovelTrack's writing months are January, April, July, and October. What I learned is that these are statistically my most productive writing months of the year (2010 being an exception b/c it was filled with low productivity as a whole).
I've also been thinking about what I learned about the novel writing process of my first manuscript (which I just finished after six years). One of the things I feel very strongly about is that while it may be okay to take a few years to complete a manuscript, for me it was detrimental to take so long to complete the first draft. With my first novel, there would be lapses of month between spurts of first drafting the manuscript--probably over the course of a couple years.
I would like to try a different tack in 2011. Couple that with the fact that I have felt a very strong urge to push myself hard next year on my writing, and you have a new writing action plan for 2011. I don't know if it will work or not. I only know my previous method wasn't the most ideal.
As mentioned, NovelTrack-Writing occurs in January, April, July and October. NovelTrack-Editing (setting goals for editing your manuscript) will occur during the months of March, June, September, and December.
I also have to allow huge amounts of time for research PLUS I want there to be a gap of time between when I write and when I pick it up again to edit.
So, here's my action plan for 2011:
WRITING:-----RESEARCH:----EDITING:
January----------February----------March
April--------------May---------------June
July---------------August------------September
October-----------November--------December
What that means is I have structure for my goals and will cycle through the process of write/research/edit four times next year.
Hopefully, that will equate to a better first draft, and enough time between tasks to keep the story fresh and alive to me and to prevent me from stagnating on one thing as I am so often bound to do.
I'm planning a high monthly word count goal and it's going to be extremely difficult, especially given the magnitude of the stress level at work these days. But I think I need to push hard, in more ways than one, to make it to the next level as a writer.
I'm looking forward to the writing possibilities for 2011. And I pray that cycling through the manuscript in this way which shave a few years off my time to completion. Guess we'll find out about this time next year. 8-)
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Don't Let Distractions Derail Your Writing
So I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down. Why should the work cease while I leave it and go down to you?” – Nehemiah 6:3
I mentioned a few weeks back that finaling in Genesis was like a signpost on a dark empty stretch of road. I now have confirmation that I'm on the right path after all. That's awesome.
But now that I have that confirmation, I have to continue learning the ropes as a writer. Which means writing. 8-) More importantly, it means writing and not being derailed by distractions.
I was listening to a radio message on In Touch this morning that deals with this very same subject. And as I listened to the message, I instinctively found myself taking the lesson to heart regarding writing in my life. Based on the book of Nehemiah, here's how he dealt with distractions and rebuilt the wall in just 52 days, all of which can be applied to our lives as writers:
1. Nehemiah recognized that this work he was called to do was the will of God. Since he knew it was the will of God, he stuck to it.
2. Nehemiah kept a clear picture of his ultimate goal. He had the end goal in mind so he didn't waver in heading straight toward it.
3. Nehemiah was aware of the magnitude of the task before him.
4. Nehemiah kept his goal constantly in prayer from the very beginning.
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Did You Leave Jesus Behind?
***
Our message today at church was “Did you leave Jesus behind?” using the passage Luke 2:41-50 and the story of Mary & Joseph not realizing for a whole day that Jesus wasn’t with them. Instead, He was listening to the teachers at the temple and asking them questions. (And can’t you just see the expression on mom and dad’s faces when He says “Why did you seek Me? Don’t you know I had to be about my Father’s business?”) Sure, they knew He was the Holy One of God, but living it day to day life…that had to be quite a challenge!
Anyway, the pastor’s point in today’s message is that, while done unintentionally, Mary & Joseph left Jesus behind. More to the point, we are still leaving Him behind today – often intentionally.
* How many times have we chosen not to go to church even though the Bible specifically commands us not to forsake gathering together? We are in effect telling Jesus “You’re not important. I’m leaving You behind today.”
* How many times do we make a snap decision without seeking Him in prayer first? And how often do we run into trouble as a result? We are in effect saying, “I know better than You. I’m leaving You behind today.”
* How many days out of each year do we spend worrying and fretting even though He tells us it will not add one cubit to our life span and that He will supply all our needs? We are in effect saying “I don’t trust You. I’m leaving You behind today.”
How many times did Jesus say “Oh ye of little faith?” Clearly, we earth bound mortals have a hard time listening to God’s commands and trusting in Him.
I want to keep today’s message in mind for all aspects of my life but especially as I set goals for 2010. I confess, my first instinct was to set writing goals without seeking God first in prayer. I was just going to set goals that ‘seemed right’ to me. But what about what seems right to God?
After all, He has been preparing me to write from childhood, from the time He first instilled in me the desire to write after I learned how to write my first sentence. He is the author and finisher of my faith. I owe it to Him, out of love and respect and a grateful servant’s heart, to seek Him first in these things. Not because of a sense of duty, but because I want to please Him.
Our message today at church was “Did you leave Jesus behind?” using the passage Luke 2:41-50 and the story of Mary & Joseph not realizing for a whole day that Jesus wasn’t with them. Instead, He was listening to the teachers at the temple and asking them questions. (And can’t you just see the expression on mom and dad’s faces when He says “Why did you seek Me? Don’t you know I had to be about my Father’s business?”) Sure, they knew He was the Holy One of God, but living it day to day life…that had to be quite a challenge!
Anyway, the pastor’s point in today’s message is that, while done unintentionally, Mary & Joseph left Jesus behind. More to the point, we are still leaving Him behind today – often intentionally.
* How many times have we chosen not to go to church even though the Bible specifically commands us not to forsake gathering together? We are in effect telling Jesus “You’re not important. I’m leaving You behind today.”
* How many times do we make a snap decision without seeking Him in prayer first? And how often do we run into trouble as a result? We are in effect saying, “I know better than You. I’m leaving You behind today.”
* How many days out of each year do we spend worrying and fretting even though He tells us it will not add one cubit to our life span and that He will supply all our needs? We are in effect saying “I don’t trust You. I’m leaving You behind today.”
How many times did Jesus say “Oh ye of little faith?” Clearly, we earth bound mortals have a hard time listening to God’s commands and trusting in Him.
I want to keep today’s message in mind for all aspects of my life but especially as I set goals for 2010. I confess, my first instinct was to set writing goals without seeking God first in prayer. I was just going to set goals that ‘seemed right’ to me. But what about what seems right to God?
After all, He has been preparing me to write from childhood, from the time He first instilled in me the desire to write after I learned how to write my first sentence. He is the author and finisher of my faith. I owe it to Him, out of love and respect and a grateful servant’s heart, to seek Him first in these things. Not because of a sense of duty, but because I want to please Him.
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