PLAN: By Monday May 29, 2023, I will finish a revision plan for part three, a project that has—gulp!—33 bite-sized chunks by returning to morning writing starting by 7 a.m. Monday through Friday.
REWARD: Because finishing this project represents a months-long sticky widget coming good and truly unstuck, I’m buying myself the steam punk widget currently parked in my Etsy cart to mark this win with tangible proof that I CAN, in fact, unstick even the most seemingly hopeless of sticky widgets.
PLAN: I will spend one hour playing around with my new novel every day this week (Mon thru Fri). "Playing around" gives me permission to stop worrying about where it's headed or whether it's even tenable.
REWARD: Not feeling like a lazy-ass, insecure dummy? OK, OK, fine. I will get a nice pedicure, at the (slightly) fancy place, where they give you cucumber water.
Maybe it's my inner chocolate fiend talking, but the answer seems clear: Buy more bon bons. Maybe a reward specific flavor. Though I have to say that a single bon bon to celebrate two to four chapters seems downright miserly, though that is definitely my inner chocolate fiend talking.
Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday I will write for one hour. By “write” I mean: I want to re-read a short story I wrote some years ago that I thought of yesterday while meditating—I think it has inspiration for me. I want to write Chapter 5 of my WIP, which has something to do with that short story. I want to decide whether to continue with that project or maybe return to a novel I’ve been wanting to write forever but my editor told me there was less market for (always such a lovely think to hear; why do we listen to these people, just because they are INDUSTRY EXPERTS?!?!). But if I hit that re-read the story and write chapter 5, I’ll be happy.
Decide whether to continue with current WIP or return to a novel you've been "wanting to write forever." I don't want to overstep, but I feel like you're heart is clambering for a vote!
PLAN: Continue making the most of this (never before!) 2-week writing retreat, and make a plan for next week, when the real world comes crashing in again.
REWARD: The joy of carrying a bit of this magic place home with me.
Make the most of your writing retreat and plan for next week sounds like an amazing goal. About your reward: Will there be a quiet moment during your retreat to write a letter to yourself about how the writing retreat felt that you can reread when you need to tap into the magic again?
That’s a really good idea! I’ve discovered a few things about how & why I spend time as I normally do. I like the approach of trying to capture what this feels like, and how I might take some of that home. Since it’s nothing but quiet moments it shouldn’t be hard! Thanks!!
Late to the party and sub stack in general but here I am.
PLAN: 2 writing sessions this week, they may be community sessions in the Writers Flow studio, or if I can’t make those, 2 sessions on my own. At least 500 words a session. I’m a slow writer in general and easily distracted by my life but this feels attainable to me.
REWARD: I have no idea. Maybe guilt free time spent reading for pleasure? I do plenty of that but I’m always feeling vaguely guilty because there’s so much to do.
Welcome! Two writing sessions of 500 words sounds fantastic! I used to struggle with rewards to. Something that worked for me for a while was to pick a scent I loved--either a room spritz or an essential oil--and spritz the room or rub the oil on my wrist when I was finished writing. The cool part it was an instant reward and the smell lingered as a reminder that I'd written that day.
The start of the summer is a PERFECT time to take stock. See if anything in here helps.: https://hibou.substack.com/p/100-days-of-summer
I love that you're using planting as a reward. I wonder if I did the same with all the repotting I see it as more of a treat than a chore. :)
Excellent and welcome! Share your goal for this week when you've had a think!
PLAN: By Monday May 29, 2023, I will finish a revision plan for part three, a project that has—gulp!—33 bite-sized chunks by returning to morning writing starting by 7 a.m. Monday through Friday.
REWARD: Because finishing this project represents a months-long sticky widget coming good and truly unstuck, I’m buying myself the steam punk widget currently parked in my Etsy cart to mark this win with tangible proof that I CAN, in fact, unstick even the most seemingly hopeless of sticky widgets.
I like it, I like it.
PLAN: I will spend one hour playing around with my new novel every day this week (Mon thru Fri). "Playing around" gives me permission to stop worrying about where it's headed or whether it's even tenable.
REWARD: Not feeling like a lazy-ass, insecure dummy? OK, OK, fine. I will get a nice pedicure, at the (slightly) fancy place, where they give you cucumber water.
An hour of play sounds amazing! And cucumber water at your spa makes it very fancy in my book.
Well, I never met a group I didn't want to join, so here we go.
PLAN: I will revise chapters 7 and 8, with a flex goal of chapters 9 and 10
REWARD: unsure. I don't want to withhold something all week so I can make it the reward! But maybe a stroll to the bakery for the good coffee cake.
“Begin as you intend to go on.”—SOME of us read your newsletter this week…. ;)
Revise 7 and 8! 9 & 10 if there's time! As for the reward--after reading your wonderful Substack post today (https://henriettelazaridis.substack.com/p/not-sitting-around-eating-bon-bons) I think you have to at least consider bon bons as a reward. A Lindt ball for every chapter? No?
That is a great idea! Trouble is, our mutual friend Lara gave me some bon bons a little while ago and I'm already eating those!
Maybe it's my inner chocolate fiend talking, but the answer seems clear: Buy more bon bons. Maybe a reward specific flavor. Though I have to say that a single bon bon to celebrate two to four chapters seems downright miserly, though that is definitely my inner chocolate fiend talking.
ok also, I already just met my goal, so now I'm onto the flex goal. Wahooo! Maybe I should walk to the chocolate shop right now :-)
I'm in.
PLAN: An hour every day developing/writing future newsletter articles, so I don't end up in a last minute crunch.
REWARD: Go see Are You There God, It's Me Margaret? in a movie theatre. Hopefully with my daughter, but either way.
Such a great movie!
An hour a day on newsletter development!
FINE CATHY. Make me work.
Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday I will write for one hour. By “write” I mean: I want to re-read a short story I wrote some years ago that I thought of yesterday while meditating—I think it has inspiration for me. I want to write Chapter 5 of my WIP, which has something to do with that short story. I want to decide whether to continue with that project or maybe return to a novel I’ve been wanting to write forever but my editor told me there was less market for (always such a lovely think to hear; why do we listen to these people, just because they are INDUSTRY EXPERTS?!?!). But if I hit that re-read the story and write chapter 5, I’ll be happy.
* Reread your short story.
* Write Chapter 5.
Decide whether to continue with current WIP or return to a novel you've been "wanting to write forever." I don't want to overstep, but I feel like you're heart is clambering for a vote!
PLAN: Continue making the most of this (never before!) 2-week writing retreat, and make a plan for next week, when the real world comes crashing in again.
REWARD: The joy of carrying a bit of this magic place home with me.
(Love the template!)
Make the most of your writing retreat and plan for next week sounds like an amazing goal. About your reward: Will there be a quiet moment during your retreat to write a letter to yourself about how the writing retreat felt that you can reread when you need to tap into the magic again?
That’s a really good idea! I’ve discovered a few things about how & why I spend time as I normally do. I like the approach of trying to capture what this feels like, and how I might take some of that home. Since it’s nothing but quiet moments it shouldn’t be hard! Thanks!!
Of course!
Late to the party and sub stack in general but here I am.
PLAN: 2 writing sessions this week, they may be community sessions in the Writers Flow studio, or if I can’t make those, 2 sessions on my own. At least 500 words a session. I’m a slow writer in general and easily distracted by my life but this feels attainable to me.
REWARD: I have no idea. Maybe guilt free time spent reading for pleasure? I do plenty of that but I’m always feeling vaguely guilty because there’s so much to do.
Thanks for this experiment.
Welcome! Two writing sessions of 500 words sounds fantastic! I used to struggle with rewards to. Something that worked for me for a while was to pick a scent I loved--either a room spritz or an essential oil--and spritz the room or rub the oil on my wrist when I was finished writing. The cool part it was an instant reward and the smell lingered as a reminder that I'd written that day.
I love the scent as a reward idea, Cathy. So simple, yet so rewarding. Thanks for sharing.