February is the month where I discover which of my plans for the new year are actually sustainable. I’m usually starting to eat healthier because I’ve finally reached the end of my stash of holiday treats. I’m able to exercise more because it is getting lighter in the mornings and I can force myself out of bed at a decent hour. Very often, however, I discover I am still playing catch-up with my writing plans.
If you find yourself in a similar situation, don’t get discouraged that you aren’t as far along as you would like in your novel, or your marketing scheme, or whatever it was you decided to focus on this year. Occasionally we all need a practice run before the program works well. Here are some questions to ask yourself before you despair of achieving your goals:
Are you ignoring other constraints on your calendar when you set your writing goals? Unless you have a patron, servants, and an isolated room at the end of a long hall in an otherwise unoccupied wing of the house, work and family will complicate your schedule. Find ways to adjust expectations – both from others and yourself.
Are you trying to push through pain? It is hard work to write. If you are distracted, anxious, or otherwise not quite ready to write, give yourself permission to be satisfied with writing less as long as you are making progress on the other issues.
Are you really ready to work on this project? There are times when we need to learn more before we can write. Maybe you improve your craft, maybe you need to do more research, maybe the topic is hitting too close to home and you have to separate your own experience from the one you want to put in words. Again, give yourself permission to set aside the project (temporarily) until you have the tools and skills to do it justice.
When all else fails, remember that you decided to become a writer for a reason. Rediscover what drove you to pick up your pen, and you’ll find a way to get back to your writing resolutions.