365 days of writing – Feb update

At the end of January, I crowed (let’s be honest, I was smug!) about achieving my goal to write daily. I posted a few badges to show my progress, and then vowed to keep going through February.

Here are the stats for FEB

1. My daily target is to write 250 words a day – my daily average was 341.25 (earning THE CLASSIFIEDS badge)
2. 86 hours of editing (badges are set at specific milestones, so this month I get the 50 hours badge)
3. 27.5 hours of critiquing (badges are set at specific milestones, so this month I get the 25 hours badge)
4. Quarterly goal passed (based on writing 90k in 2018 and earning INTERN REPORTER badge)
5. 9555 words written (making at YTD total of 29,474 words) – No badge, just a few numbers 😉

So, you know what this means …

Not so smug this time, as I missed out on the CONSISTENCY badge. But, overall, I’m happy with the progress.

Yes, I do realise I’m like a little kid who needs a sticker after going to the dentist … 🙂

So far, March is looking better still … (whoops, reining in the smugness 😉 – for now!)

Thanks for reading 🙂

I got the ‘stone carver’ badge!

At the start of the year, I joined the 365 Writing Club with the intention of developing a new habit: to write every day.

And …

You know what?

I did it!

Throughout January I wrote something – either on one of my WIPs or on my blog – every single day, bringing in a total word count of 19,919. It averaged out as 642 words a day, from lows of 180 to highs of over 1500, all recorded on a very cool spreadsheet. Got to love a spreadsheet 😉  That consistency  earned me the STONE CARVER’S badge.I know – little things please little minds!

But, it’s a start. Progress towards building that daily habit that, hopefully, will see me finish some of the stories I’ve started.

However, it wasn’t just about writing.

The group is super supportive, with weekly check-ins, goal-setting, online chats and everything necessary to keep us members on the right track.

Aside from writing almost 20,000 words, I also recorded over 25 hours of editing and more than 10 hours of critiquing. All of which means …

two more badges! Yay!

 

So, now it’s onwards and upwards into February. I’m determined to stick this out, so prepare for more badges in 28 days!

 

You can tell I was in the Brownies, can’t you?

An elf, no less, with badges all up my sleeves, too.

Except, I had a beret, not a bobble hat 😉

Ah! Memories …

Anyway, must go now … words to write and all that.

 

Thank you for reading 🙂

Weeds are flowers too

With the best will in the world, today I could only summon up a few weeds of wisdom!

Today, I don’t feel like writing.
I’m not even sure I could
put pen to paper or fingers to keyboard
or even talk to an app.

Today, I don’t feel like writing.
But, I promised myself I would.
At the start of the year, I made a vow
Write daily, write something, even crap.

Today, I don’t feel like writing.
The words, well, they just aren’t there.
I checked on my blog and found nada, my notepad is empty too
there’s nothing on my voice recorder, I really don’t know what to do.

Today, I don’t feel like writing.
It’s grey and cold outside.
I’d rather sit by the fire,
with a book or three by my side.

But, I’m not the type to admit defeat
I can’t stand to break that vow.
So, I’ll type a little nonsense,
and get the words down somehow.

It doesn’t have to make sense
or be particularly clever.
A sentence or two will do
even if it’s just on the weather.

Today, I don’t feel like writing.
So, why have I massacred these lines?
Is it because I’m too old-school
and insist that a poem must rhyme?

Whatever the reason, I’m not fussed
for the task I was dreading is done.
The kettle is on, the biscuits are waiting
and I’m all set for some fun.

I didn’t feel like writing,
but I did it anyway,
it’s a piece of shite – we can all agree.
But it’s over  … and I’m done for today.

Thanks for reading 🙂

(you poor, unsuspecting fool – I’m sorry to have wasted your time, but needs must)