Today is January's contribution to Alex Cavanaugh's Insecure Writers Support Group.
Why am I an Insecure Writer this month?
Because it's January.
The weather’s turning cold, there’s snow on the ground, and it's time to face the fact that, once again, I came nowhere close to meeting my writing goals for the year.
It's not all bad news. I made progress on both of my stories, but I’m still appalled at the amount of time required for me to work the kinks out of a chapter, even when the basic structure of that chapter was already finished. I’ll think I’m making good progress on a chapter, only to look up and realize a couple of weeks have passed. Yikes! Admittedly, I don’t have a lot of time to write, but I thought the pace of my writing speed would have sped up by now.
I’m pleased to say I did make some strides on the social media front. I’m still pretty much a newbie, but I began tweeting and posting to Facebook on a limited, but semi-regular basis. This probably had less to do with me buckling down than it did with the arrival of my smartphone in June. Man, those apps let a person social mediate anytime, anywhere.
On the downside, my Pinterest board is a royal mess.
So here are the goals for this coming year, which, surprisingly enough, are nearly identical to last year’s.
1. Finish that damn fanfic I started
2. Finish the first draft of my own fantasy story. It doesn’t have to be publication ready, but I want the basic structure of the story locked in place.
3. Continue improving at social media. Did I mention I added some chemistry-themed social media icons to my website last year? Hey, it’s a start. BTW, feel free to follow me!
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On a more positive note, I received a fantastic Christmas present this year. My wife bought me a square foot of land in Glencoe, Scotland, which means I am now officially a Scottish Lord. Woohoo!
The package came with all the documentation necessary for changing my name on official documents (like a driver’s license), but I think I’m going to hold off on that for a while. I’m still having trouble convincing my family to call me Lord Ken.
Until next month.
Lord ChemistKen
P.S. May your insecurities melt away like a chocolate Snitch sitting in the afternoon sun.
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Edit: Appears I missed the memo where Alex asked each of us to introduce ourselves, so here it is.
I'm a chemist (and Scottish Lord) who loves castles, dabbles in alchemy, and hates writing. Or at least I did before I began writing a story based on the Harry Potter universe. Now I spend much of my spare time writing fantasy. I haven't published anything yet, but hope to in the near future.
Thanks for stopping by.
Wow. I bow my head to you Lord ChemistKen. :) That's an awesome gift. Your goals are fantastic and realistic. Good luck! I recently joined Pinterest myself and it is... I'm not quite certain what to do other than to pin pictures.
ReplyDeleteBwa-ha-ha-ha! Best Christmas gift, ever! I completely agree that you totally have to just look at the progress you've made. Over time it really accumulates. Way to get out there! I'm off to make sure I'm following you on Twitter.
ReplyDelete(What is this "snow" substance you speak of? ;)
That's a great Christmas gift, Lord Chemist Ken! :) It sounds like you are making great progress! I was blogging and meandering around social media for a few years before I had more than 20 followers - you are way out ahead of that!
ReplyDeleteHappy melting chocolate day! I mean, Happy 2015!
What a cool Christmas gift! That's really fun. And congrats on making progress, that is always something to celebrate. I'm still trying to do better with social media too and you're so right, the phone helps a great deal. Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteOh great Lord Chemist Ken! That is an awesome gift.
ReplyDeleteWe all have our writing pace. Don't stress that yours is a little slow. So is mine.
No worries, Lord Ken, I missed that request, too!!
ReplyDeleteCan I get this thing and be a Lady? Maybe I'd prefer Dame. Countess? ;)
Yup, my social media goals are made SO much easier by my smart phone!
What a fabulous gift, Lord Ken!
ReplyDeleteRemember any progress is progress, just keep moving forward and I'm sure you will get there.
Lord Ken has a nice ring to it. It can be had to move out of a chapter if you try to get it perfect in the first draft. I usual try to push through and allow myself to write bad to get the first draft done. I've found the chapters i struggle with most end up chamgng the most the second time around.
ReplyDeleteAnd I missed the meme to i troduce myself too. I'll have to do it when I get home
Congratulations, Lord Ken!! What a unique gift! I didn't know chunks of Scotland were for sale. Hmmm ...
ReplyDeleteI don't think I'm following you on Twitter. I'll check and, if not, remedy that mistake at once.
Well, your lordship... I didn't reach my goals either. I had wanted to publish 4 novels. I got 3 done and some short stories. That'll have to do.
ReplyDeleteHoly Talking Cats. A real Scottish Lord*inhisownmind?* What a coincidence. I'm a Scottish lass--well, several generations removed Scottish.
ReplyDeleteLove you blog and so glad Alex started this here social networking so I could meet you.
Author of Wilder Mage at Spirit Called
Facebook Wilder Mage
That's an awesome Christmas gift! Best of luck with your goals this year! :)
ReplyDeleteLord Ken of Hogwarts *snicker* With a title nothing will go wrong again. :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks for dropping by
Anna from Shout with Emaginette
What a coincidence! I'm a royal grande dame and grandmother! It's grand being a lord, I bet. Almost as much fun as being a dame? Probably not. Happy New Year, Lord Ken. Here's to surpassing all your 2015 goals.
ReplyDeleteThat is the coolest present EVER! So cool. Seriously. And don't be too hard on yourself—one day those books will be done!
ReplyDeleteWow, Lord ChemistKen! I'm impressed. I had no idea one could buy a tiny piece of land in Scotland and call themselves a lord! I'm wondering all about the possibilities now. I luff Scotland.
ReplyDeleteLord Ken..that has a nice ring... ;)
ReplyDeleteBest wishes for your goals this year.
Oh, so Lordly.That is the best present...ever. Or maybe it's your chapter waiting for me to read it. Could be! I missed the memo too, but as luck would have it, or maybe magic, I introduced Kara instead. Worked like a charm!
ReplyDeleteBut it took me 6 tries to get this comment to post. Arggh!
Even slow progress is still progress, so you should be pleased with that. Good luck with the goals for this year, you can do it!
ReplyDeleteI made my mum a Lady last Christmas she was over the moon. I am seeing lords and Ladies everywhere, while I remain a mere pauper lol. I hope you and I both to better with our goals this year. Only time will tell I guess. Happy 2015
ReplyDeleteLord Chemist Ken. Mmm, has a certain ring to it.
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting my blog yesterday.
Good luck with your goals.
Yeesh! I totally understand your frustration at feeling like every bit of writing and revising takes SO much longer than planned! Especially when some people are putting out four or five books a year. But it's good to go for quality over quantity, right? In the long run I bet you'll be so pleased with how this book turned out.
ReplyDeleteGood luck and happy 2015!
I missed that memo too! Sigh. That can be my February insecurity: I always seem to be behind the ball.
ReplyDeleteOMG! I WANT THE SCOTTISH LORD PACKAGE! Okay, crazy excitement over. Once my brother bought me a star. I bet someday we'll find out that the ravaging bacteria that wipes out the human race comes from a planet orbiting the star named Rena.
ReplyDeleteThat is awesome, Lord ChemistKen! I would totally call you Lord Ken.
ReplyDeleteI think at the end of year/beginning of year, time slips away easiest. Maybe now that the new year is under way, you'll find a bit more time to get some writing in. :)