I learned that Mama was right. Slow and steady really does win the race. I used to marathon write on weekends and burn myself out. This year I decided if I could do morning pages I can do 3 pages of my project writing 5 days a week. So far so good…
The writing? Not so much. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
I wouldn’t categorize it as learning something new. Rather, something that was reaffirmed in 2023. Many times I wondered if I should just give up writing because I am constantly competing against multiple priorities in my life & I get tired of trying to juggle it all. At times I think it would just be easier to give up on writing and move on.
But I can’t.
I have a multitude of creative interests which wax and wane and some have just had to be kicked to the curb for one reason or another. But of all those creative interests, it’s always writing that keeps bubbling under the surface.
I can say that 2023 was the first year in a long time of making steady progress on my writing. At a glacially slow pace, but steady progress nevertheless. I’ll take it. The writing bug is likely here to stay. It’s been hanging on in some form or fashion since around 2nd grade. It ain’t goin’ nowhere. LOL!
Don’t give up the writing, BK. I struggle with the same questions and am always juggling multiple creative pursuits. I have learned (am learning) that experimentation in the other pursuits is key to learning better ways to accomplish a new skill, and am trying to carry that insight over into my writing. Lots of experimentation. It doesn’t have to be perfect the first time it’s written. Enjoy the “failures.” Enjoy the process.
Thank you. Appreciate the insight and will definitely keep it in mind.
I learned to keep a project plan for each book as a way to stay organized as I continue to publish.
I leaned more deeply the value of family and friends, and of respecting my readership.
I learned anew that writing is connection, and that to write fluidly, I must honor and allow my right-brain to have its say as well.
2023 was a transformative year for me. I learned how to indie publish and that I could produce faster (without sacrificing quality) if I concentrated on one series, rather than hopping back and forth between two.
What did you learn, Jim?
And… I just learned to read the previous comments first. Asked and answered, Your Honor. LOL
Series is where it’s at, Sue!
It’s hard not to jump around sometimes. In 2023 I *did* keep my writing time focused on one story, but traditionally I have bounced all over the place from writing project to writing project.
I learned that country living has not improved my gardening skills. But come Mother’s Day, 2024, tomatoes are going back into the ground!
Come the Zombie Apocalypse, we’re coming to your house, John.
I learned that I have absolutely no control over my adult kids’ lives.
What a danged relief!
Now, need to put that in a story…
🙂
I learned more about ISBNs than I ever wanted to know. When you self-pub, Amazon offers a free ISBN. But that number can’t be used with other distributors. I learned the hard way that It’s better to bite the bullet and buy your own from Bowker.
I learned that as much as it is my desire to have a wider readership, publishing isn’t about how many people get to read my book but the changes and growth that occurred in me while writing the book and what I learned during that period. This knowledge gave me the strength to not get discouraged when I didn’t get as many people to read or purchase my book as I’d expected. Instead, I was more encouraged that I was able to start and finish a book, publish it on Amazon, get a number of people to read it and receive their feedbacks on the publication.
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I learned that Mama was right. Slow and steady really does win the race. I used to marathon write on weekends and burn myself out. This year I decided if I could do morning pages I can do 3 pages of my project writing 5 days a week. So far so good…
The writing? Not so much. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
I wouldn’t categorize it as learning something new. Rather, something that was reaffirmed in 2023. Many times I wondered if I should just give up writing because I am constantly competing against multiple priorities in my life & I get tired of trying to juggle it all. At times I think it would just be easier to give up on writing and move on.
But I can’t.
I have a multitude of creative interests which wax and wane and some have just had to be kicked to the curb for one reason or another. But of all those creative interests, it’s always writing that keeps bubbling under the surface.
I can say that 2023 was the first year in a long time of making steady progress on my writing. At a glacially slow pace, but steady progress nevertheless. I’ll take it. The writing bug is likely here to stay. It’s been hanging on in some form or fashion since around 2nd grade. It ain’t goin’ nowhere. LOL!
Don’t give up the writing, BK. I struggle with the same questions and am always juggling multiple creative pursuits. I have learned (am learning) that experimentation in the other pursuits is key to learning better ways to accomplish a new skill, and am trying to carry that insight over into my writing. Lots of experimentation. It doesn’t have to be perfect the first time it’s written. Enjoy the “failures.” Enjoy the process.
Thank you. Appreciate the insight and will definitely keep it in mind.
I learned to keep a project plan for each book as a way to stay organized as I continue to publish.
I leaned more deeply the value of family and friends, and of respecting my readership.
I learned anew that writing is connection, and that to write fluidly, I must honor and allow my right-brain to have its say as well.
2023 was a transformative year for me. I learned how to indie publish and that I could produce faster (without sacrificing quality) if I concentrated on one series, rather than hopping back and forth between two.
What did you learn, Jim?
And… I just learned to read the previous comments first. Asked and answered, Your Honor. LOL
Series is where it’s at, Sue!
It’s hard not to jump around sometimes. In 2023 I *did* keep my writing time focused on one story, but traditionally I have bounced all over the place from writing project to writing project.
I learned that country living has not improved my gardening skills. But come Mother’s Day, 2024, tomatoes are going back into the ground!
Come the Zombie Apocalypse, we’re coming to your house, John.
I learned that I have absolutely no control over my adult kids’ lives.
What a danged relief!
Now, need to put that in a story…
🙂
I learned more about ISBNs than I ever wanted to know. When you self-pub, Amazon offers a free ISBN. But that number can’t be used with other distributors. I learned the hard way that It’s better to bite the bullet and buy your own from Bowker.
I learned that as much as it is my desire to have a wider readership, publishing isn’t about how many people get to read my book but the changes and growth that occurred in me while writing the book and what I learned during that period. This knowledge gave me the strength to not get discouraged when I didn’t get as many people to read or purchase my book as I’d expected. Instead, I was more encouraged that I was able to start and finish a book, publish it on Amazon, get a number of people to read it and receive their feedbacks on the publication.