This reflection will cover more than a week, since I need to play catch-up. I built a lot of infrastructure around my writing practice in the previous three weeks, so I'll summarize that work here:
- Made a "Write Box" (distraction free, retro writing environment)
- Created a personal site
- Organized my social media presence
- Brainstormed a mandala chart for my writing practice
- Created a writing log to track my writing and related activities
- Wrote 1,200 words in "Troglodyte"
- Published 7 stories on my personal site, including five from my "Sketches of Echizo" anthology
On its face, that looks like a lot of work for three weeks, and it was. I'm proud of the focus I've achieved and the amount of consistent work I've done. I also would be remiss if I didn't mention how helpful coding agents have been in building the site and making the organization of my writing practice much easier.
That said, my main task is to write and in that area I fell short. My ideal word count is 7,000 words a week minimum. I barely hit 1,200 in three weeks. This is a wake up call to me to write in my novel, then do the supporting activities. A fully-stocked kitchen is meaningless if the cook doesn't cook.
Sure I have three children under the age of three. Sure I have a full-time job. These are constraints, but they do not have to be impediments. With less available time, I must be laser-focused on the activities that provide the most impact on my writing. Right now that is writing daily in my novel.
I'll give myself a bit of a "free pass" this time since I front-loaded a good amount of work on my site and goal setting (mandala chart). These activities are helping significantly to focus my creative energy and also give me the assurance that I can share my writing with those who want to see it.
But I must show up and do that writing.
Next week I will.