Tuesday, December 11, 2012

The Twelve to Twenty Chapters of Christmas


Over the last few months, I've been listing my monthly goal in the sidebar.  Every month, I've only been able to achieve half of my goal, which makes me think maybe my goals are two times too big. 

I wonder if I will still accomplish only half if I set my goals smaller....  If I go for 20 chapters a month, will I only write 10? 

I only got to about 30,000 words for NaNoWriMo last month, but I only wrote 11 or 12 days, which isn't too shabby.  I blame my post-Halloween chocolate-induced week-long migraine.  Apparently I can't say no to chocolate even if it literally hurts me.

It seems like it's late into December, but we have three more weeks to go - plenty of time to knock out a monthly goal.  Since the 1st until now, I've only been working on small, relatively easy things that don't require a lot of deep thought. 

  • I took my manuscripts out of multiple smallish report covers and put them into three-ring notebooks. 
  • I reread the beta-reader comments from one of my novels and wrote them onto a single copy, which I also put into a three-ring binder.
  • I read through the first few chapters of my NaNo novel. 
  • And I have done a lot of reading on coal towns and Southern Appalachian culture.

Today I'm at the cross-roads where I need to decide what to do for the rest of the month (with 21 days left including today).  This morning I feel like writing the first draft of the second half of my NaNo novel.  So I'm going for it.   

If it were a blogfest, I would call it The Twelve Chapters of Christmas.  Too cheesy?  Doesn't matter to me as long as I get it done.  But twelve seems too small (and too achievable) to make me feel like I need to get moving on it now.  Twenty is better.


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BTW, I am very behind on returning comments.  I expected a lot of people would be participating in the blogfest yesterday for Alex.  But I had the idea it would just be Alex reading the posts. :)  I'm overwhelmed with the number of comments yesterday. 

Anyone else writing twelve to twenty chapters this month? 

 

21 comments:

  1. Well, you won't have to leave a comment at my blog. I'm still on hiatus. Glad to see you're still plugging along. Good for you.

    Happy holidays.

    Hugs and chocolate,
    Shelly

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  2. I'm writing 0 chapters this month and probably next month too. Too much editing and other stuff to do.

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    1. I count chapters edited in my monthly tally.

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  3. I think you've done a great job of accomplishing your goals.

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  4. I only write sporadically. Having too much fun doing other things and just being lazy.

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  5. Some days I feel pathetic that my only goal is to write at least 2 new sentences...

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    1. I would be happy if I wrote two sentences yesterday. I did clean two toilets and did two loads of laundry. :)

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  6. This time of year is so hectic. I just got done revising the first hundred pages of my WIP to send out to readers, but I'm digging back in to new chapters now and finding it difficult with all the holiday distractions. Probably have to go on a blog hiatus so I can focus.

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    1. I think I need to do that too. But stopping in here in the morning gets me warmed up.

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  7. I'm polishing a MS to send out again in January and will be writing when I can.

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    1. I count polishing in the writing category. Good luck getting it done.

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  8. I make fuzzy plans, now and again, and am pleasantly surprised if I accomplish them in the allotted time. (Or at all.) :-)
    Some Dark Romantic

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  9. I'd say reduce the size of your goals. See how that works. You'll probably feel good when you reach them!

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  10. I am literally writing, like, 0 words a month. I would reevaluate goals and set them on a more practical level.

    www.modernworld4.blogspot.com

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  11. I'll be lucky to get anything written this month... AND I'm dieting so no comfort chocolate for me :(
    Good luck with your 20 chapters before Christmas. Even if you end up writing 1 chapter, it's a win!

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  12. I do the ten minute goal when I'm stuck. It always works. Always.

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  13. Anyone else having problems with the Reply function? Grrrr.

    Mina - I should have prefaced the post with the explanation that I am wired in a way that I can do nothing without a goal.

    Sherry - Actually, I'd just do nothing. :)

    Gina - Thanks

    Lynda - Maybe comfort green tea??

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