Author: | Nola | Published: | about 6 years ago |
---|---|---|---|
Tags: | blogging, goals, priorities | Category: | Projects |
Last year, I blogged up a storm on this site. Thirty-one posts on everything from author intrusions to Wimbledon. I even did a series on blogging, including reasons why writers should have an author blog and how to find the time to make it happen. And then … I fell off the blogging wagon and didn’t write a single post for nine weeks. Am I just a bloggy hypocrite who doesn’t practise what she preaches? Fortunately, I’d written some good advice to myself in a post on maximising your blogging time (Post 72):
When I wrote that in November last year, I didn’t know what December would hold. First, the good news. I received a publishing contract for my debut novel (see Post 75). Yay! That changed my immediate goals because I still have to write the final chapters, deal with the 500-plus comments I’ve written in the margins, fact-check, edit, polish, and all of that before even sending it to my publisher who will no doubt want more revisions. My overall writing priorities haven’t changed, but I do have to ramp up the time I spend on this particular egg in my literary basket.
Then two bits of not-so-good news. I found out that I have moderately high blood pressure. Nothing to be too concerned about, as my other risk factors are low, but something that requires lifestyle changes—losing weight, exercising more, and generally keeping my stress at manageable levels. So far I’m going pretty well at exercise and stress management. Dieting? Well, let’s just say we have a way to go, and it’s not via the gluten-free donut stand at the markets.
The other piece of bad news was that a good friend passed away just after Christmas. There were only two weeks between his cancer diagnosis and his passing at the age of fifty-four; two years younger than me. Whenever something like that happens, you can’t help asking yourself some hard questions. What’s most important? Why do I do what I do? Am I making a difference? Do I spend enough time with my family and friends? When was the last time I told them I loved them?
So what does all of this have to do with my blog? The short answer is that I will keep blogging. I enjoy grappling with different writing topics. It helps me with my own writing, and it seems to help others too. I also love interacting with other readers, writers and bloggers. I’ll try to write weekly, but I won’t stress out if I miss one. Sometimes I’ll have other priorities and sometimes I’ll just be kind to myself. Hopefully my readers will still be there, unless they’re off prioritising and smelling the roses too.
Have you had any writing goals come adrift in the last year? Hang in there. It’s not too late to change course. When our writing hits the fan, we can help each other pick up the pieces.
Comments read 6 comments
With a major change happening in my life, hopefully I can use it all in my own blog. These next couple of months might be trying, but after I may have plenty of time to work on various writing projects.
You're definitely a writer, Kirsten. Anything that happens can end up on the page :) Changes can be challenging, but it's cathartic to get those thoughts and feelings down on paper. Praying something even better is round the corner. Thanks for taking the time to comment.
Love this post Nola and a huge congratulations on your publishing contract! I'm finding I'm in much the same position with my blog - my business is so busy I'm finding it hard to find time. Besides I made a NYR to blog for the love of it - aim for one or two posts per week, rather than forcing myself to stick to a schedule.
Sounds like a plan, Janet. You're such a super blogger. I was wondering where you find the time. Definitely a time to be kind to ourselves. Thanks for the encouragement :)
thanks for the reminder to take the pressure off round blogging - we all need to be kind to ourselves. (I think I'm a little bit too kind to myself...)
You are a wonder with all you achieve - blogs, reading other peoples' blogs, writing a novel, and poetry on the side. Well done to you!
Huge congratulations on your publishing contract!
Thanks Pamela. It is hard to keep all of those balls in the air sometimes, so it's good to be able to work out priorities. Let's keep reminding ourselves that we can encourage each other in our writing, but that we also need to be kind to ourselves. Thanks for commenting :)
Comments for this post have closed.