The Weekly R.A.P #10
Writing Goals Check-In for July 30, 2023
Reminder: The Weekly RAP is a gentle tool for staying accountable to your writing goals. If you set a goal with us in the comments of last week’s newsletter, check in about how it went by adding a comment! If you’re just joining us this week, ignore the first two questions of the RAP sheet and just set a goal for next week.
As we leave July and start August, this is a good time to take a look at the goals you set for the 100 Days of Summer and see if you’re on track.
If you are, great! Keep truckin’!
If you aren’t on track, is it possible to get on track to hit your goals by September 4?
If so, what would need to change to catch up?
And if it’s not possible to get on track for your summer goals, perhaps it’s times to prioritize what you can get done—what’s the most important thing you can do in the time you have left?
But first things first—how did this week go for you?
THE WEEKLY R.A.P #10 — July 30, 2023
RECKONING—If you set a writing goal in the comment section of HIBOU’s July 17th post for The Weekly RAP #9,1 did you achieve your goal? Yes? No? Partially?
ANALYSIS–What went well this week? What was a challenge? What insights did you learn about your writing this week? Looking ahead to next week, can you repeat what went well? If the coming week has similar challenges to last week, how might you adjust your writing schedule or your goal? Are there any new challenges to take into account this week?
PLAN–What is your writing goal for the coming week (7/31 - 8/6)? What’s your plan to get it done? How will you reward yourself for the work you complete? A friendly reminder that smart goals are (s)pecific, (m)easurable, (a)chievable, (r)ealistic, and (t)ime-bound.2
Copy and paste the template above into the comments, replace the questions with your answers, then hit post and check out what other HIBOU subscribers are up to and cheer them on!3
Remember to be kind to yourself if you didn’t make your goal!
Today is the start of a fresh, new week!
Click the link if you need to refresh your memory!
For example, while I have to get cracking because how the heck are we already at the start of August? may capture your urgency perfectly, a smart goal makes the action more concrete: By July August 7, I will clear three one-hour writing sessions out of my week to break ground on this chapter I’ve been avoiding.
Because this is about us not me, my full weekly RAP response is posted in the comments.
CATHY'S WEEKLY R.A.P— July 30, 2023
RECKONING—Read the novel for manuscript mart. Did manuscript mart! Did Muse. Did not get through my chapter.
ANALYSIS–I got a bit distracted by marketplace stuff but the news was good--both agents I sat wtih asked to see the novel when it's done. Now I just need to finish the damn thing!
PLAN–(7/31- 6/6)- Deep focus--putting in daily work. Draft of chapter 28. Read Omnibus. Stretch is a draft of chapter 29. 7/31 and 8/3 are deep dive days for me.
I've been off the RAP bus for a few weeks due to travel / illness / a pile-up of "real world" work (the pesky kind that pays the bills) / nagging self-doubts over whether this is the "right" book for me to be writing / uncertainty about anything beyond the book's overall set-up / conceit. But when I *do* actually write, and stop thinking about the bigger picture stuff (both in the book AND in my sense of my writing life / career / etc.) I have fun! So....that's good? Anyway. I'm determined to get back on the horse. Or bus. Or whatever it is. So:
PLAN: Daily work, one hour. Also, getting up a little earlier, because it really does help to start early when the world is still sleepy.