Plans

I think I became resistant to making plans because I love doing it, and all that potential progress looks so positive and pretty when settled like eggs in a nest. Hatching them is another story entirely. Failure is depressing.

Looking back over my writing or lack thereof, the years I got more done than just completing a rough draft in November, I had definite goals in mind. One year I joined a group that set monthly goals. That was awesome! Unfortunately it disbanded into the second year and my goals came tumbling down as well. Nothing has been built since.

I'm going to get back on track now. Writing is one of three main areas of my life that are getting major overhauls. The others...well they deserve blogs to themselves.

The encouraging part is that I wanted to build on November's momentum this time around. I took two weeks off after NaNo, considering I didn't start till almost the 15th of November and still managed to finish. I was worn out! I have been doing a morning page regularly since about mid-December; my new journal is 8 x 6, college ruled and one page was about all I could handle to start with.

The good news is characters are starting to visit! Most people try to get rid of the voices in their heads. In my insanity, I welcome the voices with open arms. I didn't realize how badly I'd been missing them. So far, I've met two new potential protagonists.

So once again I find it reaffirmed: when you come to the page, the rest comes to you. I have failed to come to the page, but the rest has never failed me yet. Just put down something. It doesn't have to be more than drivel. It all counts.

I have been learning from my unhatched plans too, so not all is lost. Don't attempt too much at once. Make the goals very specific. Start big and work down to what I can do right now. Very basic, I know, but I can't be a fast learner in everything.

This blog will be part of my plan for the year. I like the feel of accountability, and I'm going to do my best not to whine here. I want to be more constructive. Press those lemons and add plenty of sugar. Drink that lemonade, be refreshed and keep going.

I've never felt that writing has to be a chore. Like almost every other writer out there, I've let it become unwelcome from time to time, but the trouble is never with the writing. The writing always does me good. The trouble is generally my attitude toward the writing. If I can keep the attitude right, then the rest should be better. That's my theory anyway. Let's see how it works.

That's not to say I can't discuss problems. I just can't say, "I hate this plot, or this character, or this revision" without doing something to fix the problem. Find the problem and fix it. Don't stop! Celebrate the joys and the achievements, find the silver lining in failure and defeat. It can be done.

It must be done.

It will be done!