 Day Forty-Five, and Some Thoughts about PerseverancePosted by Elisa Beatty Feb 23 2012, 12:03 pm As we move towards the end of the Winter Writing Festival, I’m thinking a lot about what’s made some people super-productive over the course of the last 45 days, and what’s made some folks (who seemed enthusiastic on January 11) drop out before the end. In some cases, I’m sure Life just came up with some surprises that got in the way. Others may have fallen victim to self-doubt or confusion about their stories, and couldn’t quite force themselves to push through it (one of the positives of being the coordinator of this Festival is that I COULDN’T drop out, and so kept pushing through my own rougher moments–and the good energy kept coming back). It’s also clear to me that, with a 50 day Festival, it’s really important to have a VARIETY of ways to earn your points. They shouldn’t all be equivalent to each other, either. You need some “quickie” ways to earn a point on Bad Days, or Busy Days, or Low-Energy Days, so you stay engaged with your story without feeling like you need to be Superwoman. Even just “spend five minutes glancing at what I wrote yesterday,” or “take a walk and think about my story” would be fine ways to earn points. Do you have any thoughts on the subject? And how are you doing today?
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I earned half a point this morning before school and the other half this afternoon. But I am at the point where I just want to shut myself in a room(preferably one with room service, or at least unlimited diet Coke and chips) and finish the book.
I think I will get to my 50 points by the end of the festival. Adding “attending workshops” was a great addition for me this year. I think I need to come up with a good “plot formation” measurement for next year, since I plot only in my head. If I try to chart or put it on sticky notes, I lose the thread of my story.
Congrats on earning the point! I soooooo hear you on the longing for some time alone to write!!!!! (I’d even be fine staying home, as long as I could have a few hours at a stretch without hearing, “Mommmmmy!!”)
And, YES, a “plot formation” measurement would be a great idea for next year!
(As for me, I’ve got to get the seven-year-old and the dog to the dog park now before somebody explodes. The kids and I have had the week “off” from school, and I’m starting to think very fondly of being back in my classroom again, where at least nobody expects me to jump up every ten minutes to provide a constant stream of snacks….or help them find their Nintendo 3DS.)
I completely forgot about the festival (sorry!) for a couple of weeks. I probably did earn a point each day, but I just didn’t have time to post about it!
No worries, Amanda! Good to have you back! I hope you’ll join us for a sprint or two in the final stretch!!