This is my 100th day in a row of writing. I did it. I know for a fact, that I haven't formed a habit (even though that was my plan) so the only thing I've formed is the resolve to write. I know if I don't write, I'll let myself down. I still have to hold myself accountable. Even if I've already done 100 days in a row, I still have so much more to do.
Next up - 200 days.
It was hard to do. I love writing, but I didn't want to do it every night. I spend A LOT of time with Anthony. It takes a lot of energy to be with a 16 month old all day. Some nights, I had to force myself to write. Those were the nights I only did small bits of writing.
In fact, it's after 10 p.m. right now, and I'm only just starting.
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| Awkward thumbs up. Awkward selfie. It's okay. Awkward suits me. |
I had a lot of plans for my 100th day. It was going to be filled with writing. I was going to do this post. I was going to do a prompt and my happy thought (which I'll still be doing), and I was planning to do a whole bunch of editing. That's probably not going to happen now.
My kiddo wouldn't sleep. He had a fun day at a Pumpkin Festival (anybody in the Saskatoon area should definitely check out Black Fox. They've got great festivals.) He had a late nap which meant he was not ready to go to bed when I wanted him to go to bed.
That's my life. I wouldn't trade it for anything, but it means Erin's Writing Life starts later. I've said this before, but possibly not in this blog. I did not realise how hard it would be to write when Clint was gone. It's a lot harder to get as much writing as I'd like. Part of that is raising a kid that never slows down, and part of it is making myself do more.
I find it interesting that after writing 100 days in a row, I am not as proud as myself as I think I should be. Instead, the only thing that seems to be going through my mind is: "You can do better."
It's not fair that I can't just be happy for my accomplishment, but maybe it's good that I'm holding myself more accountable than ever before. Possibly, if I had been holding myself accountable before this, I'd have a novel published.
I've never been good at quitting, but I have been good at letting myself do less than I could. If I don't push myself to be the best person and the best writer that I can be, who will? I can't ask that of anybody else. It's up to me. I HAVE to push myself, and I have to keep reminding myself that I can do better.
Other days it would be a blog post. Very few days it was a journal entry (that secret book for nobody but me). For the past three weeks, it's been editing my novel. I know this isn't exactly writing, but it's a writing process. It's the MOST important part of my goal. I've started off slowly, but I need to be more consistent in my editing. I need to do five pages a day. No less than that. I started at one, and haven't worked up to five yet. That's actually a little embarrassing.
I guess, I think all the other writing isn't as important. So even though I'm proud of myself for writing every day, I would be more proud if I was accomplishing more with my novel. I love my novel. I want to make it better. I want to love it more. That's never going to happen if I don't push harder every day.
These past three weeks, I've given myself the chance to reintroduce myself to the characters I gave life. It's been wonderful. I missed them. I feel terrible that they've been neglected for about three years.
I let life get in the way of writing at a time when life didn't have to get in the way. If I've learned anything from my 100 Days of Writing, it's that I have to write. Following my dreams means nothing if I'm not writing. It means nothing if I'm not trying.
If I don't ever reach my dream goals, at least I can say I fought like hell to get my writing out there.
If I can't say that, I have nothing.
So here's to fighting like hell. I'm going to continue. I'll still be trying to do one post a week. And I'll still be doing everything I did in the past 100 days. But more. And better.
If nothing else, the 100 days has motivated me. I'd say that's a pretty good reward.
Happy Sunday. Momming and Writing will continue during the week just as it has during the weekend.
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| This is what we did before writing. Hay and pumpkins. The best day. |
Followed by night time writing. Pretty great day.“Exercise the writing muscle every day, even if it is only a letter, notes, a title list, a character sketch, a journal entry. Writers are like dancers, like athletes. Without that exercise, the muscles seize up.”
― Jane Yolen
"Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year."
©ErinLeahMcCrea All photos I share on my blogs are my own, please Ask Me For Permission Before Using Them.
Also, check out my ongoing book blog: Proud Bookworm at: http://bookserinread.blogspot.ca/
I occasionally do guest Mom posts for a local Mommy Connections blog. Check them out, and others here:
http://www.mommyconnections.ca/saskatoon/category/mommy-connections-news/
I occasionally do guest Mom posts for a local Mommy Connections blog. Check them out, and others here:
http://www.mommyconnections.ca/saskatoon/category/mommy-connections-news/
Blogs I used to write on but not being updated:
and
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