In the merry, merry month of May

[venta]

Bookkeeping for New Year's Resolutions, May edition.

Sleeping

Y'know, I'm doubting the premise upon which this resolution was based. I seem to have got over the languorous malaise that afflicted me at the beginning of the year. I've even declared myself un-injured and begun doing a bit more exercise which, in general, makes me feel more awake and energetic. I've been tucking myself up in bed at reasonable times.

And do you know what? I'm still flippin' crap at getting out of bed :(

If anyone's got any wild and crazy strategies to help with this, wheel 'em out.

Writing

In an attempt to make up for last month's failure, I have sent three written stories out into the world to seek their fortunes. Although two went to the same place.

Going to a writers' triangle is compelling me to get on and write things, which is great. I've often found myself floundering in a story with no idea where to take it, and I've given up. Or shelved it "temporarily", but never got it down again. Knowing that you've either got to finish this one or write a whole new one before tomorrow night is a great motivator. And probably a useful thing to learn. As Neil Gaiman said: Write. Finish things. Keep Writing.

The other vertices of the triangle are also proving invaluable in providing feedback. Obviously they pick up lost commas and so on, but even more helpful is the bigger, conceptual stuff where something doesn't work, or isn't clear, or just could be better. Or, of course, it's also nice to know when things do work.

Reading

Well, bit of a failure on this one, actually. I collected two new books from the library in mid-May but have been distracted finishing off Garth Nix's Sabriel trilogy (which I think isn't actually called that). Also, I have been spending a lot of my commuting-on-the-train time writing instead of reading.

I did break out a book and make a start on it on May 31st, so it's technically not a total washout :) However: no reviews this month.

Comments

[eniel]

A few friends have gone on about the merits of sleep apps which wake you up "within a range of half an hour or so" before you Absolutely Must be Up. Can't remember whether you mentioned you were using them, didn't seem to find them in your resolution posts :)

May or may not work, haven't tried them myself.

[venta.livejournal.com]

Mm, yes, I like the idea of trying one of those out. Sadly my phone is a bit busted at present, and won't install new apps... will report as and when I get a new phone!

[lathany.livejournal.com]

Going to a writers' triangle is compelling me to get on and write things, which is great.

Agreed. I've made my corrections, I just need to write at a speed that matches the reading. (So far, there's not been that much pressure as I had chapters in hand - that will change).