I’m the kind of girl who loves (loves) to check things off. Want me to be more productive? Just let me take five minutes to write out a list. I’m at that point in my novel where I can’t set a word goal everyday and meet it. I mean most all the words are written. Now is the time to go and make sure they are the right words? Is my meaning coming across. Does my main character’s eyes change color mid-novel? You know. The nitty gritty part. I needed a new way to chart my progress.
I was scrolling (read: procrastinating) on Pinterest and I came across an article on how to write more and create a daily writing habit. The jest was write more, produce more—be like the greats who push a novel (or 3) in one year. Joanna goes on to explain that on days she writes 1000 words (or more) she got a pink check mark on her calendar. On the days she didn’t, she got a black check.
I loved this idea. A checkmark for everyday you write?! What if I changed it to a checkmark for everyday I worked on my novel. I did something to progress it along? And I could also print off an amazing cute calendar that would fit in my planner. I was on board.
I quickly did (another) Pinterest search for free calendars, printed it off, and I was in business. I love seeing my “progress” on paper—and figuring out what I need to work on. That whole white week you see there (not before the 9th, I hadn’t discovered my “system” yet) The one I didn’t do anything? Start of school. I was beat (I’m still beat, but DEADLINE). While this is a seemingly simple (and maybe a little silly) I’m highly motivated to get some work done. Why? Not only am I getting closer to the end, but I also get a pink dot on the day!
I’m excited to start fresh in September. Now I have a goal to have more pink dots than I did in August! I think I can do it!
What are your tips for staying motivated?
Also, happy September! Where’d August go?
August calendar from Dawn Nicole Designs. September calendar from Oh the Lovely Things.
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