write daily

4 of 7.

4 out of 7. It was a really hectic week, otherwise I may have managed more. I’m very pleased with the outcome.

Over the last week, I’ve taken time to write down what I consider my “daily inspiration” – the one thing that has spurred my creative spirit that day more than anything else. Tying these two goals together has really been beneficial. Recording inspiration is a natural way to start a journal entry without recounting the entire day’s events.

Last night I uploaded a four paragraph “note.” It is the second time that I’ve put any significant amount of personal material on facebook. I am becoming more and more comfortable sharing my ideas and writing. I am going to aim to upload a new note every week on Sunday or Monday.

I also just learned that my library has a copy of Writers Market 2010 – which apparently is the industry standard for freelance writers. I have a few ideas of publications that might be interested in carrying something I’ve written -hopefully this book can help me connect the dots and start selling my work.

This goal slipped off my radar for a little while, but I’ve been reminded lately how important it is. I managed two days last week—not fantastic, but a good start. I’ll see how I go this week. It’s important for me to remember to keep the bar low on this one, else I run the risk of burning out.

In my case, I don’t mean writing down feelings or any of that. I mean writing about an article I’ve read, or some research I’m doing, or some piece of news I heard/read that day. To practice my “writing muscle”. Say, 12 lines of text everyday.

Ideally, I would write in Portuguese and English, alternating languages each day.

Eventually, I’d add French and Spanish to the equation… For example, Portuguese-English-Portuguese-English-Portuguese-Spanish-French… and seven’s all the days in a week. In fact, I could do the writing based on having read articles in the language in which I was supposed to write that day. That’d really be something!

I’ll start this right after I’m done with my final year in college (Dec. 2009). It’ll be quite a challenge!

I am finding that this goal is one where I need to hold myself accountable. Nobody is going to force me to make a written record, to reflect with some insight, to develop my own style. By writing down my daily sources of inspiration (see the other goal), I have to write more than simply a list of the things that happened each day. Another idea I have is to write short essays in my facebook notes each week. This way I can become more comfortable sharing my work with the world.

I have a sabbatical coming in Spring 2010. Basically I am not even familiar with the 1 1/2 chapters I cranked out last summer. However, I do have a better situation and writing plan this time around.

Obstacles to time management: too much busy work @ AIP/Clarion, time for family, providing care/advice to parents, 3 1/2 year old who needs his mom….

For now even morning pages would be a start.

I spent a little time early in the week doing some organising for a collaborative project I’m working on and that was about it. For a change I’m not even beating myself up about not having done more. Perhaps I really do need a break.

I didn’t do any writing at all last week, just gave myself plenty of time to recover. It seems to be working.

I’m starting to wonder whether this goal is physically possible for me. Perhaps I could do a smaller, daily stint, but that never seems to work out.