Hi ladies,
Here is your lesson for next week.
Take care, and have a great week!
Irene S. Roth
Here is your lesson for next week.
Take care, and have a great week!
Irene S. Roth
Upvote
0
Lecture Lesson for the Week of April 15th, 2019
- Thread starter Sunny Irene Roth
- Start date
1. Do you learn from your mistakes? Which steps to do you take not to make the same errors over and over again?
I try to, but I definitely think making a formal time to practice my reviews and posting a poster/painting with the questions I mentioned last week (what worked? What do I want to try differently next time?) will be helpful to remind me to learn both from my mistakes/failures and successes.
2. Do you create plans of action? If so, how?
I do, though I often overestimate what I can do in any given amount of time. I’m reading atomic habits which complements the 12 Week Year rather nicely. So, my focus is on creating systems and habits to allow me to focus more on the writing during writing time and not just plans with tasks, but concrete times to work on said tasks... which is still virtually impossible when my toddler is awake and since the barking dogs woke him up, I’m typing this on my phone as he nurses.... he’s fallen back asleep, but not let go yet.
My plans tend to focus on what I think I need to do based on studying others’ successes, or what I think needs to be done in order to complete what I’m working on. I come up with a lot of tasks that I think I’ll be able to do and a timeline of when to do them... like wordcount goals however, sometimes it’s best that I focus on time-based sprints for one goal at a time.
3. Do you resent another writer’s success? How can you ensure that you don’t waste energy doing that?
Fortunately, this isn’t a sin I have in the writing arena. In other areas, oh yeah.
4. Do you give up after your first rejection of a manuscript?
How can you take steps not to do so in the future?
Since my focus is on indie publishing, its more I get frustrated when I don’t find an audience, but I think part of that is that I have jumped the gun in the past and not revised, edited and cleaned up my manuscript as well as i should have before publishing. Also, I know now that releasing a series close together and with a marketing and ads push behind it will help ignore find its market, but first I have to work on prettying up my MS before publishing.
Which is besides the question I think also, I need to be aware of my blurbs and my covers and how on or off genre they are and work to make them fit the genre to keep working towards finding my audience.
Perhaps keeping a list of launch plan ideas and marketing ideas so that even if my books don’t “hit” right away, they still keep getting eyes on them
5. Do you fear solitude?
No, I crave it! I’m a total introvert, I love writing without anyone around and the door shut and just my tea and computer screen for company.
6. Do you multi-task a lot? How can you refrain from multi-Tasking as much?
This question is ironic in that I didn’t read this lesson until I had already revised my goal from wordcount to a set number of sprints. My goal is to stop multitasking and being distracted and work on sprints... although, lol, I’m introducing dictation with the hope of (a) saving my wrists, but also (b) being able to do simple chores like sweep or fold laundry while I dictate... hmmm.... now it’s time to reconsider if this is a good goal or not
7. Do you expect immediate results?
I know I shouldn’t, but I’m hoping to find my audience right away with my new superhero series and pen-name using all I’ve learned. But, this will be a year+ of hard work in the making by the time I launch, not to mention the nearly a dozen novels I’ve finished drafts of that went nowhere....
So… kind of... which i guess is a reality check for me.
8. Do you merely focus on results, such as publication, and don’t take steps to enjoy the journey? How can you take steps to ensure that you enjoy the journey more?
No. I really do enjoy the daily writing and it helps me cope with day to day life. But, we’ll... maybe the revision process I could use some joy in the journey there. And I do enjoy learning about launch strategies and learning what I can about publication and craft.
In those areas, I think I need to focus on the joy I can get from playing with the words on the page, moving scenes around and how things all fit together.
I try to, but I definitely think making a formal time to practice my reviews and posting a poster/painting with the questions I mentioned last week (what worked? What do I want to try differently next time?) will be helpful to remind me to learn both from my mistakes/failures and successes.
2. Do you create plans of action? If so, how?
I do, though I often overestimate what I can do in any given amount of time. I’m reading atomic habits which complements the 12 Week Year rather nicely. So, my focus is on creating systems and habits to allow me to focus more on the writing during writing time and not just plans with tasks, but concrete times to work on said tasks... which is still virtually impossible when my toddler is awake and since the barking dogs woke him up, I’m typing this on my phone as he nurses.... he’s fallen back asleep, but not let go yet.
My plans tend to focus on what I think I need to do based on studying others’ successes, or what I think needs to be done in order to complete what I’m working on. I come up with a lot of tasks that I think I’ll be able to do and a timeline of when to do them... like wordcount goals however, sometimes it’s best that I focus on time-based sprints for one goal at a time.
3. Do you resent another writer’s success? How can you ensure that you don’t waste energy doing that?
Fortunately, this isn’t a sin I have in the writing arena. In other areas, oh yeah.
4. Do you give up after your first rejection of a manuscript?
How can you take steps not to do so in the future?
Since my focus is on indie publishing, its more I get frustrated when I don’t find an audience, but I think part of that is that I have jumped the gun in the past and not revised, edited and cleaned up my manuscript as well as i should have before publishing. Also, I know now that releasing a series close together and with a marketing and ads push behind it will help ignore find its market, but first I have to work on prettying up my MS before publishing.
Which is besides the question I think also, I need to be aware of my blurbs and my covers and how on or off genre they are and work to make them fit the genre to keep working towards finding my audience.
Perhaps keeping a list of launch plan ideas and marketing ideas so that even if my books don’t “hit” right away, they still keep getting eyes on them
5. Do you fear solitude?
No, I crave it! I’m a total introvert, I love writing without anyone around and the door shut and just my tea and computer screen for company.
6. Do you multi-task a lot? How can you refrain from multi-Tasking as much?
This question is ironic in that I didn’t read this lesson until I had already revised my goal from wordcount to a set number of sprints. My goal is to stop multitasking and being distracted and work on sprints... although, lol, I’m introducing dictation with the hope of (a) saving my wrists, but also (b) being able to do simple chores like sweep or fold laundry while I dictate... hmmm.... now it’s time to reconsider if this is a good goal or not
7. Do you expect immediate results?
I know I shouldn’t, but I’m hoping to find my audience right away with my new superhero series and pen-name using all I’ve learned. But, this will be a year+ of hard work in the making by the time I launch, not to mention the nearly a dozen novels I’ve finished drafts of that went nowhere....
So… kind of... which i guess is a reality check for me.
8. Do you merely focus on results, such as publication, and don’t take steps to enjoy the journey? How can you take steps to ensure that you enjoy the journey more?
No. I really do enjoy the daily writing and it helps me cope with day to day life. But, we’ll... maybe the revision process I could use some joy in the journey there. And I do enjoy learning about launch strategies and learning what I can about publication and craft.
In those areas, I think I need to focus on the joy I can get from playing with the words on the page, moving scenes around and how things all fit together.
Upvote
0
1. Do you learn from your mistakes?
I try to learn from my mistakes. When I submit a piece of writing to be read, I really listen to what they say. I try to keep the suggestion in mind as I write, trying to prevent the same writing mistake. I haven't published, so I don't have any of those type of mistakes to learn from-yet.
2. Do you create plans of actions? If so, how?
When it comes to improving my writing, and not repeating mistakes, I look for podcasts, books or classes on craft that would improve that certain skill. I focus on that, reading lots of mentor texts to see how another author did it in their book (for example- how they write first person present, or how they describe a scene or how they address the characters motivation in first person).
3. Do you resent another writer's success?
no. That would be a waste of energy.
4. Do you give up after your first rejection of a manuscript?
No, although I am not trying to get traditionally published at this time.
5. Do you fear solitude?
I don't fear it, but it is hard to get. When my kids are awake, even though they are older, they really demand my attention. My husband travels frequently, so when he is home, I try to be "present". When everyone goes to bed, I try to stay up and write, but I get up at 430 am, so staying up late, in a quiet room just makes me sleepy. I am still looking for the best time of day to carve out some good writing time. Searching for that balance in my schedule has been tough. So, no fear of solitude, but it is elusive.
6. Do you multi-task alot? Constantly.
How can you refrain from multi-tasking as much?
As mentioned in #5, I am still trying to find that perfect hour or two of quiet where I can work without falling asleep or my family feeling I am neglecting them. So, I multi-task the things I can to try to find that time. Carving out that hour would help with that.
7. Do you expect immediate results?
Not really, I do want to see at least baby steps towards the success I am working towards. (weight loss, improved running stamina, improved writing skills, etc.) I think I have pretty realistic expectations of my growth in skills.
8. Do you merely focus on results, such as publication, and don't take steps to enjoy the journey? How can you take steps to enjoy the journey more?
Hm. I think I have been focused on steps the end. Therefore, I have been enjoying it when I reach a goal (getting book cover designed, writing the blurb, a successful beta read, finishing a chapter or meeting another writing goal). I recognize the enormity of the task of getting a book to publication. I have a certain standard for myself and the book I put my name on. I want it to be the best book it can be. So, I am pretty patient for the process. I want a book I can be really proud of. So, each step towards that is great. I hope I have a pretty good checklist for completion that I am following.
I loved the response to my book cover, I loved the response from my writer friends who read the last draft (which won't be the last draft as I have a several page long editing letter to apply to it). So, these are the things I am focused on . Getting each step right towards the final product.
I try to learn from my mistakes. When I submit a piece of writing to be read, I really listen to what they say. I try to keep the suggestion in mind as I write, trying to prevent the same writing mistake. I haven't published, so I don't have any of those type of mistakes to learn from-yet.
2. Do you create plans of actions? If so, how?
When it comes to improving my writing, and not repeating mistakes, I look for podcasts, books or classes on craft that would improve that certain skill. I focus on that, reading lots of mentor texts to see how another author did it in their book (for example- how they write first person present, or how they describe a scene or how they address the characters motivation in first person).
3. Do you resent another writer's success?
no. That would be a waste of energy.
4. Do you give up after your first rejection of a manuscript?
No, although I am not trying to get traditionally published at this time.
5. Do you fear solitude?
I don't fear it, but it is hard to get. When my kids are awake, even though they are older, they really demand my attention. My husband travels frequently, so when he is home, I try to be "present". When everyone goes to bed, I try to stay up and write, but I get up at 430 am, so staying up late, in a quiet room just makes me sleepy. I am still looking for the best time of day to carve out some good writing time. Searching for that balance in my schedule has been tough. So, no fear of solitude, but it is elusive.
6. Do you multi-task alot? Constantly.
How can you refrain from multi-tasking as much?
As mentioned in #5, I am still trying to find that perfect hour or two of quiet where I can work without falling asleep or my family feeling I am neglecting them. So, I multi-task the things I can to try to find that time. Carving out that hour would help with that.
7. Do you expect immediate results?
Not really, I do want to see at least baby steps towards the success I am working towards. (weight loss, improved running stamina, improved writing skills, etc.) I think I have pretty realistic expectations of my growth in skills.
8. Do you merely focus on results, such as publication, and don't take steps to enjoy the journey? How can you take steps to enjoy the journey more?
Hm. I think I have been focused on steps the end. Therefore, I have been enjoying it when I reach a goal (getting book cover designed, writing the blurb, a successful beta read, finishing a chapter or meeting another writing goal). I recognize the enormity of the task of getting a book to publication. I have a certain standard for myself and the book I put my name on. I want it to be the best book it can be. So, I am pretty patient for the process. I want a book I can be really proud of. So, each step towards that is great. I hope I have a pretty good checklist for completion that I am following.
I loved the response to my book cover, I loved the response from my writer friends who read the last draft (which won't be the last draft as I have a several page long editing letter to apply to it). So, these are the things I am focused on . Getting each step right towards the final product.
Upvote
0