Happy New Year!

[ratherastory]

Okay, so I'm, like, five days late. Whoops.

Still, I hope 2014 is treating everyone beautifully so far! If it's not, I hope it mends its ways very quickly for you.

I have actually written words this year. Only 1,000 of them, but that's 1,000 more than I managed to write in the last 6 months, so I'm taking it as a win.

I'm trying to get back into the swing of things. I sat down and plotted out just how much free time I have for writing these days, and figured out that I have about 10-12 hours a month in which I can write. On a REALLY good day I can write about 1,000 words in an hour. Given that some of that "writing" time will have to go toward research and plotting, I think that a goal of 6,000-10,000 words a month is reasonable. Time will tell, of course, if that's feasible.

I am making a serious attempt to turn my life around, to be more present for my family, and that means a lot less time spent online when I'm at home. When I'm at work (or, rather, in the city where I work) I allow myself to be online more, because that's basically the only interaction I get with friends. But when I'm home, I want to spend as much time as possible with my family. When they're not home, I need to maximise the time I do have to do chores, run errands, and also sometimes write. That means no more screwing around on the internet when I could be doing things.

I will also be making extra special efforts to stay on top of the community stuff I'm in charge of. I've been doing okay, but not great, and I am determined to be a better mod this year. Here's hoping.

What's everyone else up to these days? Inquiring minds want to know!

Comments

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Hey hun! Happy New Year AND Happy Birthday!

That means no more screwing around on the internet when I could be doing things.

Yeah, it's a tricky one to negotiate, but I think it's worth it. I've set myself limits also and it's actually kinda liberating. Balance is the good thing. :)

Hope you have a great 2014! <33

[harrigan.livejournal.com]

Ahh... *balance*! It's not easy. is it? All the kudos to you for setting priorities, even (especially) when they are the opposite of selfish. (I have to say, family becomes more precious to me the older I get.)

I am mulling over whether to do spn_j2_bigbang this year, and if so, what? I'm pretty sure it would be a J2AU, but the idea I have most plotted already is sort of a coming-of-age story, and I don't even like to *read* coming-of-age stories, so I have a feeling it would be a had idea to try to write one. Hee! (But it's an Olympics fic, and I do like a good sports AU. Then again, there are always zombie apocalypses and/or outer space or cowboys to play with!)

[ratherastory.livejournal.com]

I'm not doing the BB this year. Last year I signed up and defaulted, and it made me feel like ten kinds of shit, so I'm not doing that to myself this year. I don't deserve to sign up for things if I can't follow through on my commitments.

It sounds like you have some pretty awesome ideas! I can't wait to see what you come up with. :)

[quickreaver.livejournal.com]

I vote for outer space cowboys. :D

[ratherastory.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much!

Balance is so, so hard. I'm at the very beginning of learning how to manage it all, but I'm optimistic.

I hope you have a great year too!

[borgmama1of5.livejournal.com]

Happy New Year!

So, inquiring minds want to know: in what fandom were those first 1000 words this year??? :)

[ratherastory.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

400 were original fiction, 600 were Teen Wolf, of all things.

[http://users.livejournal.com/tesserae_/]

That means no more screwing around on the internet when I could be doing things.


My challenge for this year in a nutshell... a great deal of my internet time isn't even me talking to other people/commenting/discussing, it's the same kind of passive involvement I used to get from books. I think my life would benefit greatly from more active attention & less taking refuge in other peoples' thoughts...

[quickreaver.livejournal.com]

I have this nutshell too. You've encapsulated a really spot-on issue I've fallen prey too, as well. So one big AMEN.

[ratherastory.livejournal.com]

I tend to spend too much time on Twitter, which is incredibly distracting. Time to pay more attention to real life. :)

[nerthus.livejournal.com]

Happy birthday!! Hope your time management plans work out well for you in 2014; I'm horrible at organizing and managing my hours once I'm off work, so I guess I should make that bad word PROCRASTINATE become obsolete in my vocabulary, ha. But I know myself too well and I know I shall likely bumble my way through another year, my head in a fog and my thoughts drifting like the tide when I should be focusing on something in particular. Ah, well, I'm okay with that, ha, so kudos to you for having will power and determination and the desire to improve yourself! The one thing I DO need and desire this year is more patience and learning to be a more attentive listener to others.

[ratherastory.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I've been working on my own procrastination thanks to Timothy Pychyl, his blog on Psychology Today and his podcast (iProcrastinate). He's a professor at Carleton University and specializes in procrastination and self-regulation failure, and his work his both fascinating and very helpful (at least so far!).

[quickreaver.livejournal.com]

This sounds like a perfectly brilliant idea for the 2014, and beyond. I know life has been anything but easy for you this past year...so much flux...but you're resilient. And this 'resolution' (though I don't think it's as impermanent as a New Year's resolution), makes so darned much sense.

That means no more screwing around on the internet when I could be doing things.. THIS, SO HARD. Gonna take a page from the Ratherastory play book here. Setting limits and sticking to them is key for me. Then maybe I'll actually start turning things in on time and get done the bazillion things I want to. And maybe I should say "No" every once in a while, too. Helpful, that.

So good to hear you're writing and feeling positive and industrious. I really do admire you in about nineteen different ways.

Best of luck, D!

PS...Happy Berfday!

[ratherastory.livejournal.com]

Thank you! The last year has been hard, but it's all been good stress, which is awesome. :)

I've been listening to the iProcrastinate podcast by Prof. Tim Pychyl, and I can't recommend it enough. Procrastination and self-regulation failure are his specialities, and his work is both interesting and highly useful even for the average layperson.

[quickreaver.livejournal.com]

I NEED THIS LIKE WHOA. Thank ya!

[ratherastory.livejournal.com]

It's been SO useful for me, I can't even tell you. I've been listening for about three weeks, and it's helping me turn things around.

[chiiyo86.livejournal.com]

Happy new year (as well as happy birthday, if I'm not mistaken?)! I hope you'll have a wonderful year and will be able to hold your resolutions. My main project in terms of fic writing is to complete my spn_j2_bb, which is a sequel from last year. Everything else is a bonus! My goals are modest, you see. :)

(sorry for the edit, I had accidentally posted my comment unfinished!)

[ratherastory.livejournal.com]

You are not mistaken! I'm 35 today. It feels like time is flying by!

I hope you have a fabulous year too! Good luck with your writing! :D

[embroiderama]

Yay for 1000 words! I have a lot of admiration for your dedication to being productive and present for your family.

[ratherastory.livejournal.com]

Thank you! The "productive" part is proving to be a hell of a challenge, but I'm trying hard!

[ferrous-wheeler.livejournal.com]

Happy New Year! It certainly can be hard to limit internet time and that is definitely something I have to work on as well. Love your fics!, but have time for yourself and your family, the things that are most important need to come first. *hugs and Happy Birthday* :)

[ratherastory.livejournal.com]

*hugs back*

Thank you! I'm attempting to strike a balance. I suspect it will be a work in progress.