By Alegra Clarke
Every year my husband and I make two lists on New Year’s Eve. One of the lists is of our resolutions, the other is our requests. We like to look at resolutions as things that we know we can achieve by our own efforts. The requests represent our dreams and hopes for the year ahead. The two lists often find themselves intertwined, the requests representing the fruit we hope to harvest as the result of fulfilling our resolutions. An example would be the resolution to write and submit ten short stories with my request being that four or more of those stories might find publication.
There is something deeply satisfying when a request is fulfilled. At the end of each year we review all of the things we have achieved and the requests that have come to pass. The achievement of a resolution grants us a temporary sense of accomplishment but the fulfillment of a request gives us something more—it fuels our sense of adventure and possibility.
Requests are fulfilled in ways that are always a surprise and very often involve the generosity of others. I like this, especially when it comes to my writing goals. It allows me a certain freedom to dream big and work with full commitment but without so much fear of failure— after all, besides trying to win the affection of my muse by buying her pretty notebooks and taking her out for lattes at artsy cafes, I have to surrender the outcome of my writing efforts and enjoy the adventure. I can’t force someone to publish me, at least not in any way that will help me sleep better at night, so I never know which one of my writing requests will be fulfilled or how it will come to pass.
This year my resolutions are streamlined. This has nothing to do with finally learning moderation or respecting my limits and everything to do with the fact that two of my resolutions are so big that they nearly consume all of the oxygen in my brain whenever I think of them. As the mother of a newborn, two small children and a horse-dog, I really need that oxygen. My first two resolutions are to finish my master’s degree and finish the novel. My other resolutions are intended to support those first mammoth tasks.
Morning Pages & Writing Routines
Years ago my mother gave me the book The Artist’s Way by Julie Cameron and from that book I took away the habit of writing morning pages (three pages of hand written stream of consciousness) and made it a daily practice for several years. My memoir that won the Writer’s Digest Competition, Salamander Prayer, was born out of these pages. I’ve decided to return to writing them this year.
The other resolution is to experiment with my writing routine. Most of my favorite authors have discussed the importance of certain rituals when working on a project. For some it is the need to write in the same place at the same time every day. For others it might be going for a walk every morning. Whatever it is, the key thing is that it requires consistency. I have never attempted this before and I want to try it out for myself. One of my first experiments is to work on the novel only in my bedroom. It is the one space in my small home where I can have some level of control over my environment—especially once my husband gets around to installing a lock on the door.
What are your writing resolutions this year? Or if you don’t believe in resolutions, I’d love to hear some of your working habits or writing rituals. I am always inspired to hear how other writers work and dream.
Alegra Clarke is a frequent contributor to Editor Unleashed. Follow more of Alegra’s writing adventures on her blog
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Morning pages and writing routine are both very interesting to me. I’m just writing whenever I feel I have the time for it, and where ever I am. I get up at 5 a.m. and I have a few hours before my wife and kids get up, so the morning pages would be something I should be doing.
When it comes to writing routine, I have an office at home, but it doesn’t feel quite right. I’m not sure what it is, but I like to be somewhere else when I’m writing. At the moment I’m writing in the living room using my sofa and an iLap. It’s comfortable and it seems to be working.
The only resolution I’ve got this year is that I’m going to “finish” my first novel (it’s in Norwegian), and that I’m going to be focusing on this the whole year.
Thanks a lot for sharing.
I’ve always gone by the ‘write when I can and where I can’ method also so I am curious to see what or if it makes a difference to actually stick to a few ‘rituals’ with my writing. I look at it as priming the mind in the same way physical training conditions the mind.
Morning pages are a great way to get through some of the mental mulch in order to access the good stuff. A warm-up before hitting stride with whatever project is at hand. Plus, I am often surprised by things that appear in the pages.
All the best with finishing your novel!
Hi Maria
I really like this post. Interesting to ponder requests in addition to resolutions. As for me, my writing goals all have to do with blogging this year, both promoting my own blog more, re-designing it (if I can afford that) and having more of a presence in other people’s blogs (you heard it here first!)
I have also thought a lot about writing routines. I did a post for Urban Muse last year on how to access one’s creative space, which goes to the heart of writing routines. Here it is:
http://www.urbanmusewriter.com/2009/02/guest-post-designing-your-creative.html
Happy New Year and good luck!
Delia Lloyd
http://www.realdelia.com
I LOVE the idea of companion requests for resolutions. That just makes so much sense!
I started my first novel last year and I’m on my way to a hot mess of a first draft. So one of my resolutions is to finish the first draft and complete the first round of heavy revision. Also, I have an idea for a series of short stories so I am going to complete those as well.
I don’t have a set time for writing. I carry notebooks with me at all times. I stash them like an alcoholic stashes bottles – in the car, in the living room, by the bed. While I don’t have a set time, I’m always thinking of when the next time could be. Like, “If I get dinner done by 7, I have several hours to write.” I normally work out first thing in the morning and then go to my day job so I’m not able to do morning pages but I have done them in the past.
Alegra, I love morning pages. The writing is so raw and I can get lots of good stuff out before my internal editor wakes up. Some of my best writing happens before the sun rises!
I am SO not a morning person, which makes it hard to do morning pages. I’ve tried before, and I end up resenting the process more than anything else.
I love the idea of resolutions and requests. And one thing I want to do this year is get into a writing routine. I want to finish my last Nano novel, which is about 1/3 done (first draft). But I really, really want to just start writing every day.
Thanks for the thoughtful post, Alegra.
To give up my all-or-nothing thinking about writing time, having finally come to grips with the fact that I am never going to have long stretches of uninterrupted writing time available to me. I’m setting small daily goals and have resolved to work on the novel in whatever time is available to me each day, even if it’s only 15 minutes. I get up two hours early during the work week so that I can work on my novel before leaving for my day job — although some mornings things happen in the real world that shorten or interrupt that writing time slot which are beyond my control.
I also really like the resolution/request idea and that you and your husband do this together. This year, my writing resolutions have less to do with putting words on the page (though I too will be finishing my novel this year…I swear) and more about making space for creativity and imagination and community. For me that means turning off the stupid TV for good. That means reading poetry every day, supporting local writers by attending readings and buying their books as well as participating in the blog community I’ve been lurking around in up until now. Best of luck to you all!
Sara & Genia – I forgot to confess that I am resigned to the reality that my ‘morning’ pages will be ‘any time of the day I can sit down and do them pages’! I think it is definitely ideal to get them done first thing but since I have a newborn, sleep trumps over regularly scheduled morning activities!
Liza – Yes, I have found that I really need to get that ‘raw’ writing out of my system before I can move on to writing anything that makes sense. I am also trying to allow that writing to be anything it needs to be – even if it is just my monkey mind babbling about the things I need to get done, my anxieties, etc. A form of allowing my editor/worrier have its voice before it gets put back in its room so I can get some real work done!
Dory – I am the same right now. With three children, one of them being a newborn, my ability to work requires small bursts of activity. I am trying to find ‘constants’ within this, such as only writing drafts back in my bedroom on my laptop. I also want to find a few fun things I can do (I read recently that Isabel Allende lights a candle before writing) to set the stage for my writing. Haven’t figured what this will be yet!
Tracer -
I have a similar resolution in terms of supporting other artists. I was gifted a kindle this year which will make purchasing new books more affordable for me, so I plan to try to read a novel by a new writer at least once a month and to spread the word about the gems I find. I also want to continue to subscribe to more literary magazines and promote them. I have been subscribed to Glimmertrain for two years now and love it.
Lisa – sorry I didn’t mean to put a ‘z’ in your name! I am typing with my baby in my arms :oP
Hi, Alegra!
I’m a freelance editor/writer and my clients have to come first. But for the past year, a lot of other things kept coming “first”…or at least ahead of my own writing projects. So I decided to use January to clear the decks. I took the month off from my martial arts classes and I’m tying loose ends, making a business plan for the year, not procrastinating on getting my tax documents together, and (ironically) leaving my writing group so I can write. Writing is a solitary pursuit, but I find right now I need a little isolation! I love to encourage and support people but trying to do it for 30 people at once is difficult.
I have three novel-length manuscripts, two of which are 70% done. I will finish the first draft of one of them – if I can get on to making revisions before the end of 2010, I’ll call it a bonus. :-) My other goal is to submit essays, poems and other completed shorter-format works for publication.
Ugh. “Consistency.”
The Four Elements of ‘Ailina’s Writing Routine:
1) Read (1 hour). Anything. Articles, a novel, short stories, some poetry. Just feed the brain with words.
2) Critique (1 hour). No better way to familiarize myself with what works well and what doesn’t work at all than proofing other authors’ works.
3) Write (3 hours +). a) Warm-up is journaling, or little writing prompt sites, like oneword.com or Mykuworld.com. Revision is the necessary next step, working on previous scenes/chapters. Writing new material is last, because I’ve found my groove.
4) Research (30 minutes +). Tons of industry/craft articles out there for tips on everything from query letters and synopses to character and plot construction. Great motivator/educator.
Ideally, I stick to this routine at least four days out of the week. That’s a lot of progress when viewing the big picture. And it helps to log my progress day-to-day. Then I feel more like a Writer, and less like an Aspiring. :)
Ailina-
Thank you for sharing! Reading your list confirmed how I work best as well. I need to do at least an hour of reading a day (if I don’t, I notice that my writing begins to lose inspiration and fails to progress) and reading your #3 was an ‘aha’ moment for me because I’ve played around with the order that I do things but like you, what intuitively I know what is going to work best is the warm-up, followed by editing, ending with fresh material.
I am so impressed with your daily schedule!
I try to slip in the research and critique when I can but definitely not a part of my day to day list.
Elizabeth,
Taking some time to clear out and focus is exactly what I am using January for!
Alegra:
Greatly enjoyed your reflections on resolutions. Thanks for sharing. As for me–well, it may not be Guinness-worthy, but I managed to break my own breaking record!
Less than five minutes into the New Year and my Resolution was shot to — whoops, almost got caught using a cliché.
Anyway, there I was, having just watched Carson Daly drop in Times Square when . . . . Wait! The same person who warned me against one more glass of champagne has just informed me that it wasn’t Carson Daly, but rather an illuminated ball that dropped in Times Square. Let me try this again.
There I was, apparently having just watched an illuminated ball drop on Carson Daly in Times Square when I felt this uncontrollable urge to fumble for a pen and grab a napkin. I fought Paul’s good fight for a minute or two, then threw in the towel. Pressing pen point to napkin, I wrote a line. Not just a line, but THE LINE—the one that had been eluding me for days, nay, weeks, nay nay—my entire life! The line that would ultimately be singled out from my works and enshrined along with “Call me Ishmael,” “Lolita, light of my life, fire of my loins,”
“After all, tomorrow is another day” and
“Leave the gun, take the cannoli.”
As for my line, best I can figure out after three days of trying, the scrawl on the napkin reads “For the firstdcv time he ghtjy kloe and thyruplm while she couldvbg nmdl roepfnmf at day’s bfltly.” Nor can I remember it, although at the time I was convinced that this was the most unforgettable of lines..
But it doesn’t matter. The only thing that counts is I broke my New Year’s Resolution to never write another line, ever. As in I RESOLVE TO GIVE UP WRITING! Finished. Done. The End. Not just in 2010, but forever.
I made that resolution knowing full well what it meant. It meant that, like every other New Year’s resolution I’ve ever made, sooner or later I would break it. Exercise more, eat healthier, stop threatening the cats with tortures from the Spanish Inquisition when they trip me—each one of them broken. So this year I wanted to make a resolution that would spill good not guilt feelings when it was broken. Understand, a New Year’s resolution is, at its core, a publicly declared intention to overcome a publicly confessed addiction. And being public, you’re fair game for shame and ridicule should you fall short. There’s something very American about the whole process that started way back with the Puritans, who delighted in moral failings. Probably a great premise for a book.
So, in that same spirit, here goes, or, at least, here went my public admission, which I have since learned evoked much encouragement, in the form of laughter, from my fellow TV-watching congregants:
I confess my weakness before God and before you my brethren and sistern. That Old Devil, Writing, took possession of me in childhood and has dwelled within me from then ‘til now, controlling my heart, my head and my hand. Because of this, I have done many strange things. However, I hereby declare that, by all that is holy, I am now determined to break free. Writing, you Old Devil, leave me forever ! Release me from your malefic spell!
Not bad. A tad melodramatic, perhaps, but all-in-all, not bad. And it worked. For almost five minutes, it worked. But Writing is a cleaver old devil, who resorted to whispering a line—that line—that damn brilliant line—into my ear, then searing it into my brain. Being only flesh, the delicious agony was too much for me to endure, leaving me no choice but to yield. I’m told after I finished jotting down the line, I collapsed into a deep sleep as if intoxicated—a state that often is confused with bedevilment.
So do I care that once again I’m under the sway of a greater power? Hell no! I cared that I didn’t exercise more. I cared that I didn’t eat healthier. I cared that I plotted disproportionate revenge on the cats when they brought me to my knees—but writing? Absolutely not! For me, giving in to this particular obsession is the perfect imperfection.
It’s also the perfect excuse. The next time an editor asks “How could you submit crap like this?” I can honestly say, “the devil made me do it.”
Oh, and BTW—I think I’m almost there, if I could just pin down the meaning of “thyruplm.”
Gary, there is only one way to respond to all of this:
*slings her baby over her shoulder, stands up on her swivel chair and applauds*
That pretty much summarizes my reaction.
I like to do my “flow of consciousness writing on Dr. Wicked website. Setting the highest possible, negative consequences for stopping too long. When I’m done and re-reading, a lot of it doesn’t make logical sense but, I usually net 2-3 really good nuggets out of each session.
Ronda, I am a big fan of Dr.Wicked too. I had considered doing my morning pages that way but am choosing to try it freehand for now.
Good for you, Alegra! You must be young with young eyes:-)
Yesterday, our town library called me to tell me that the copy of The Artist’s Way that I have on hold is there and waiting for me. Now, I can’t wait to go get it. I wish you quiet moments behind a locked door, and sweet hugs and kisses when you open up.
I don’t believe in resolutions. In fact I blogged on that exact topic on January 5. The title is No to Resolutions! Check it out!
Ronda – I wish I were young with bright eyes…not old, but as my dad likes to remind me, “you aren’t a spring chicken anymore.” Gotta love them dads, right?
Liza – I have been thinking about reading it again. It is a wonderful book. I hope it brings you a great deal of inspiration. And thank you for the lovely wishes :o)
Joanne – I love resolutions! I don’t place negativity on them and I try to make them with a spirit of joyfulness and challenges but I really enjoy the ritual of a New Year. In fact, I don’t think I celebrate changes in life enough like Spring, Summer, etc. and plan to do more of that this year.
My writing resolution is to FINISH. I need to learn to finish what I start. I’ve got a million (okay, not a million) stories sitting there with no ending. This year I WILL finish a story, maybe two or three.
My first writing resolution is to finish the publishing project I’ve set myself and get the next five of the seven poetry books in my Alternative Poetry Books series out into the world.
My second is to finish my novel – One Piece at a Time.
My third is to keep having fun with my silly autobiography on authonomy.
My fourth is to try and not get overly involved in PR, publicising and marketing to the extent that it prevents the first three resolutions from being kept.
My fifth is to try and keep my blogs and Twitter my fun places to be.
Oh and I really need to sleep more and eat less – which will impact positively on my writing.
Morning pages. I’m intrigued. I’m going to have to look that book up. Very nice post. :)
Melissa: ‘Finish’ pretty much sums up my resolutions this year :o)…add in a phrase I picked up from a friend recently ‘by any means necessary!’
Banana: You have an impressive list! I loved the ’sleep more, eat less’. By the sounds of all that you are going to achieve you might need to ’sleep less, drink more coffee’ ;o)
Crystal: I hope you find something useful in the book!
I found your website while exploring blogs for writers. I am also an avid “Morning Pages” advocate due to reading all of Julia Cameron’s books. I began the practice four years ago, which resulted in multiple manuscripts. I appreciate your links as an aspiring writer.
I am relatively new to the blogging community so my New Year’s Resolution is a quest titled, “In Search of my Blogging Identity.” Thank you for the insightful article!
JoDee,
So glad you found me. Searching for your blogging identity sounds like a great adventure for the year ahead. I began blogging about four years ago without any clear idea of what it was I was doing or even with the aim of it being a writing platform. I saw it as a sort of ‘bulk email’ to keep in touch with friends and family. I reluctantly signed on to MySpace in order to have regular communication with a few friends and then began blogging as an ‘online journal’. A few members of the blogging community stumbled upon my entries and my journey into the blogging realm began! It has been a constant evolution and process of discovery. The best part of it for me is the way blogging has connected me with people.
I have been doing those morning pages for at least a dozen years now. My format has changed over the years resulting in bins of spiral notebooks, looseleaf paper, journals and books. My current method is the spiral Hilroy notebook. It’s portable for travel and not so precious that I don’t care if it gets a little beat up.
My husband has given his word that he will burn the pile if I should leave this mortal coil prior to him. I promised I’d haunt him forever if he didn’t.
It’s the way I start my day wherever I am. Coffee by my side, notebook, three pages, tick and check. It’s so much a part of my routine I think it would feel like failing to brush my teeth or something. It’s a great place to ‘dump’ and to aspire and resolve and imagine and plain old think.
Thanks for your blog. I just found it today and am looking forward to reading more or your posts.
Colleen,
After only two months of getting back into the routine of the morning pages I am already reaping in the benifits. The first six weeks of entries reads something like this: anxious about this, blah blah blah, need to get this done, blah blah blah, oh look, there is a fly on the wall, blah blah blah, what should I eat for lunch?, blah blah blah
And then just a couple of weeks ago, I began to uncover the gold. I know the ‘blah blah blah’ will need to have its voice and I welcome it, realizing that it is part of the composting process. I love hearing that others are ‘m.p.’ devotees too! Daily training for the writer’s brain :o).
Never in my life did I ever imagined that I will be a writer, well, a blog writer if that will count. It took me months to develop my writing skill, and the fact that I can write more than 500 words of pure is a huge accomplishment. It all started with my resolution that I will write everyday, even if I have to eked it out. Never did I know that I have the capacity to improve with every small effort I did. Up till now, I write and write and write.
It is my dream to author a book but my abilities at the moment are not enough. I admire your dedication in following your dream, you took every opportunity to improve your craft despite you obligations.
Patience and perseverance has its reward. I believe that your request will be granted because you are doing all you can to make it possible. You are the master of your fate and you are the captain of your soul. :-)
It sounds like you are doing all the right things to not only move towards a future goal with your writing but also live the dream now – because to be writers we have to write!
Thank you for your kind words of encouragement!
I loved this line: “Requests are fulfilled in ways that are always a surprise and very often involve the generosity of others.”
I’m realizing that writing is a very personal experience, but it is also a very public one. I’m good at the private side of writing. I get my chai tea latte and my white laptop and click away. However, I stink at the public side of writing.
I’m learning to cast my seeds and not worry when they don’t take root. Some day, one seed will bring forth a tree, and I will bask in its shade!
I’m late reading this, but very much enjoyed it. Thanks Alegra. I don’t do morning pages, I do barn chores. But, as I clean stalls, fill water buckets and feed the horses, my mind creates scenes, carries on conversations with people I’ve never met about things I know nothing about. When the chores are done, then I write. Notes are jotted on my little sticky pad, “boots glow red on the bottom when facing the fire”, cold ground makes for hard sitting, or whatever else clings from the barn musings. After that, I’m ready to tackle my works in progress.
As to new things for this year? I’ve decided to “friend” writers I enjoy. At least one a week. Drop them a note, or comment on a site. Not that I expect them to do likewise, but I want to encourage them, let them know they are not alone in their quest and that someone out there is aware of their work. What I say may have nothing to do with writing. I hope to pick up on what they might need to hear at that moment. Just a touch to keep them going.
Great suggestions, all around. As a mother of three young children, finding time to write has always been a challenge. One way I’ve learned to stay disciplined is by entering writing contests. Not only does it look good to have a few awards to mention on a query, but it also gives an “aspiring” like myself, a deadline.
Today, for instance, is the deadline for a good contest some of you might be interested in if you write YA or Middle Grade fiction. Check it out at http://www.kidlit.com
Overall, I believe repetition is the key to successful, productive writing. Tracy Hickman (author of the “DragonLance” series) once told me, “to become a good writer you must be willing to stare at a computer screen until blood comes out of your forehead.”
Graphic, but good advice.
After spending seven years working on my novel, I started to feel a little sheltered/insecure. Without much interaction with readers, I felt a little isolated. Therefore, I resolved to be more social and concentrate on getting something published- this would, I figured, be very good for my ego and help me to finally complete my book. Therefore, I vowed to write a story a month for 2010, and to submit to 20 literary magazines and/or contests per month. The rationale behind this system is that the more rejection letters I accrue (which I will), the closer I am to being published. I’ve decided I WILL be published this year.
Here’s the post I wrote about my process on a blog I called Brooklyn Reject:
http://brooklynreject.blogspot.com/2010/01/rejection-or-bust.html
Thanks for the post and to all the other writers with their comments.