The Weekly R.A.P #12
Writing Goals Check-In for August 13, 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.
And a warm welcome to all the new subscribers who found me after a mention on Jane’s Calamity (a witty and wise newsletter about the beautiful absurdities of life, writing and otherwise, that all my readers should check out). HIBOU, though, is a a newsletter for writers on the hunt for a wise writing life. All writers are welcome here—from those just getting started to seasoned pros—but I have a special place in my heart for writers in the murky middle of their writing lives who—like myself—understand that a well-rounded writing practice involves not just regular reading and writing but a commitment to protect your creative flame from the punishing winds of self doubt and long odds. I tend to write newsletters in series here—this summer I’m toggling between accountability posts for the 100 Days of Summer (the post below is such a one) and a read-a-long of Jeff Vandermeer’s Wonderbook), but here are a few of my favorite posts from last spring’s Mood Tools.:
Welcome, welcome, welcome!!!
The Weekly R.A.P #12
I prize myself on trying to channel the loving voice of reason in these pages—or at the very least a sardonic acceptance—but with three weeks left in this 100 days of summer I’m feeling a lot more like this doggo looks:
On the plus side, I’m not screaming, but on the negative side, I’m clearly not feeling what you might say is good.
In response, I’ve made arrangements to put the doggo currently eating up all my spare minutes into daycare three days this week1, and I’m getting back on track both for this week, the end of this 100 days of summer, and for my goals for the fall.
Speaking of the fall, here’s a poll about the future of the Weekly Rap at the end of this 100 Days of Summer experiment:
But I’m getting ahead of myself once again this week because these RAPs are about checking in on the week we’ve had, so I ask for the twelfth time since we started doing this—how did this week go for you?
THE WEEKLY R.A.P #12 — August 13, 2023
RECKONING—If you set a writing goal in the comment section of HIBOU’s August 6th post for The Weekly RAP #11,2 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 (8/14 - 8/20)? 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.3
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!4
Remember to be kind to yourself if you didn’t make your goal!
Today is the start of a fresh, new week!
This is great socialization for her that also gets her used to the place where she might one day board, so this is a win, win, win!
Click the link if you need to refresh your memory!
For example, while SOUND THE EVERLOVING ALARM AND GET CRACKING OVER THESE LAST THREE WEEKS may perfectly capture your my current level of urgency panic, a smart goal makes the action more concrete: By August 20, I will work on this chapter every morning for an hour.
Because this is about us not me, my full weekly RAP response is posted in the comments.
CAHTY"S WEEKLY R.A.P #12 — August 13, 2023
RECKONING—I was hoping to finish a revision of chapter 28 and get a rough draft of chapter 29 and the epilogue done, but I didn't even make it through the revision.
ANALYSIS–I made a breakthrough in how to revise chapter 28, but I didn't take full advantage of the time I had this week, prioritizing an afternoon kayaking--first time and loved it!--over a deeper dive on the day I had time to do it. I think part of it is the dwindling summer, but--if I'm being fully honest and if I'm not what's the point?--a part of me is more afraid of getting to the end of the draft than the part of me that's afraid of NOT reaching that goal. With three weeks, it's still doable, so I shall take a deep breath and get to work.
PLAN–I shall take a deep breath and get to work! LOL. I've cleared three days this week for the kind of head down work I need to do to push to the end. Here's hoping it's enough! I also think I just need to go back to longhand. Every fucking time I tell myself I should try to stop writing longhand, my writing goes sideways on me. I have enough time to write it out and type it in, so I'm think I'm just going to do that!
RECKONING— I missed the email for R.A.P. #11 and never set an intention nor reviewed week 10. Oh well.
ANALYSIS— I kicked a** week 10 riding that article until it was done, published on my website, and sent in my newsletter. Can you say 2:15am? I spent week 11 writing to promote the piece and doing research for my next article.
PLAN— Have fun with my next article. I have original research. I'm going to pull it together, look for the story, and write that first draft by end of day Tuesday. Looking to publish this week, then take the next 2 weeks off.