Make Your WISH Come True

I have been a part of the writing group on Skateboard since it was part of the old MSN forums back in 1996. What a fantastic find it was been for me, from the first day I logged on. I found my best friend and all the support I needed to pursue the craft of creative writing.

This year quite a few of us joined forces to conquer NaNo, and we also decided we wanted to get that kind of momentum going more than just once a year, especially since NaNo falls at such a busy time.

So we have chosen February to be our WISH month: Writing Isn't So Hard. We're busy setting goals, and pushing forward with something we want to accomplish in February. Our plan is to put our goal in writing, and then cheer each other on, perhaps offering a hand up if the going gets tough.

This is a very supportive group. In the 10+ years I've been with them, even as people have come and gone during that time, the tone of this board is constant--support and encouragement. I have never ever been flamed, or received anything other than supportive encouragement regarding the writing I've posted there. Despite diverse backgrounds and different writing interests, we're committed to helping each other and at the same time enjoy the laughs and encouragement that can only come from other writers.

We also meet once a week for a workshop/open chat to discuss various aspects of writing or to get ideas and support from one another for our projects. Currently we meet at 1:30 PM Central Time on Wednesday. The link to the Chatroom, as well as our newsgroup, is available on Skateboard's main page, by clicking Writers & Poets on the left sidebar. If you have any trouble accessing either, let us know. We'll work till we get you where you want to be.

Let's make the most of this shortest and sometimes most difficult month of the year: join us in February, if it is your WISH to see you writing move forward. From setting a simple regular goal, to finishing the editing on a novel, we can provide the support to get you where you want to go.

This post on our newsgroup describes the WISH goal:

At workshop yesterday we talked a little bit about our goal for WISH in February. I think we decided two things:

• Writing Isn't So Hard when you aim for 500 words daily.
• If 500 words a day doesn't suit your circumstances, then Writing Isn't So Hard if you set a goal that will help you achieve what you want.

Willa mentioned that a daily goal is better for her than a monthly one because it eliminates the tendency to procrastinate. If you find this is true for you, and you choose a goal other than writing 500 words a day, you might consider breaking the goal down to daily or weekly tasks that will help you reach your overall goal by the end of February.

During the last week of this month, I'll [try to remember to] start a thread that will allow us to post our goals for February. Having a goal down in writing helps, and having the support and encouragement of your writing group can make all the difference when the going gets tough. Meanwhile give your goal some thought so you know exactly what you want February to be for you.

Here's to making our WISH come true....

~ Carolyn

"It is faith, finally, that saves us: faith that our words will matter enough--if only to ourselves alone....This is no small thing we do." ~Monica Wood