Defragmenting the brain - the perfect way to put it! I too feel wonderfully defragmented after the break. The Mslexia planner is brilliant isn't it? I was also sceptical about whether it would be worth the cost but when I saw the number of resources it contained re publication submission windows, competitions etc I realised it would be so good for my productivity - the admin of finding and keeping track of all those dates is something I really don't like and so often don't do. And also, it's so pretty!
Thanks for recommending make space for the light. I've been recommending The Shape Of Guilt to many - and I am still thinking about it now months later. It's really an incredible piece of work.
Looking forward to reading what you create in your Year of Creativity!
Thank you so much Rebecca, for your kind comment and for recommending The Shape of Guilt. And it's somehow nice to think of you, sitting up there on your island and working through the planner just like me in southernmost UK. It is very pretty, isn't it? The first thing I've done is crochet a sleeve for it to avoid it getting dirty and worn when I bring it places, and today I finished a short story that I'm going to add to my submission list. I feel calmly and quietly excited about 2025.
Kindred spirits, I have a sleeve for mine too (although not handmade, unfortunately!). I have a burning question, though - what are the 5x5 grids on the left hand pages for?!
There are some instructions for how to use those at the back, which will probably be better than mine 🤣 But the purpose of them is to implement new habits, so for mine I've written W for write, M for Meditate, C for Craft etc at the bottom of each column, and then I put a cross for the ones I manage to do every day. Then the next week you evaluate what worked and what didn't, if you need to step back, or if something went so well that you'll now do it automatically and can instead implement a new habit. It's extremely enjoyable to keep crossing things every day.
Oh I missed the instructions!! Oops! I love this idea though. It's exactly the sort of thing that helps keep me focused. I keep loving this planner more and more 😂
so many things to say about your reflections here! Your experiences of 'fragmentation' of your attention is one that lots of the writers I work with talk about and when it comes to social media especially I often advise people to think of it in seasons. There are seasons when your attention should be on your creative work, and others when it's necessary to focus on connecting with others in order to promote your work, but it's actually really hard to do both at the same time, especially when you add in all the demands of having a family, and possibly a job on top!!
Thank you, Nicola. Yes, this makes sense. I really did go for it during the year after my book was published, and now it's time to withdraw inwards to where the stories reside. I just read such a disheartening article on promotion in The Author by an anonymous author detailing everything they'd done to promote their books, which strangely made me feel better. I'm not alone in my experiences, and now it's up to me to work out how to do it on my own terms.
Yes exactly - I had this exact conversation with a writer in my membership towards the end of last year. She was feeling quite jaded with Instagram as her book came out in Sept and she had been ON IT for months. I pointed out to her that she had been sprinting for months when Instagram is really a marathon, and happily she had already decided to get to Christmas and then reset her priorities. I’d love to read that article in The Author - is it accessible to everyone to read?
Defragmenting the brain - the perfect way to put it! I too feel wonderfully defragmented after the break. The Mslexia planner is brilliant isn't it? I was also sceptical about whether it would be worth the cost but when I saw the number of resources it contained re publication submission windows, competitions etc I realised it would be so good for my productivity - the admin of finding and keeping track of all those dates is something I really don't like and so often don't do. And also, it's so pretty!
Thanks for recommending make space for the light. I've been recommending The Shape Of Guilt to many - and I am still thinking about it now months later. It's really an incredible piece of work.
Looking forward to reading what you create in your Year of Creativity!
Thank you so much Rebecca, for your kind comment and for recommending The Shape of Guilt. And it's somehow nice to think of you, sitting up there on your island and working through the planner just like me in southernmost UK. It is very pretty, isn't it? The first thing I've done is crochet a sleeve for it to avoid it getting dirty and worn when I bring it places, and today I finished a short story that I'm going to add to my submission list. I feel calmly and quietly excited about 2025.
Kindred spirits, I have a sleeve for mine too (although not handmade, unfortunately!). I have a burning question, though - what are the 5x5 grids on the left hand pages for?!
There are some instructions for how to use those at the back, which will probably be better than mine 🤣 But the purpose of them is to implement new habits, so for mine I've written W for write, M for Meditate, C for Craft etc at the bottom of each column, and then I put a cross for the ones I manage to do every day. Then the next week you evaluate what worked and what didn't, if you need to step back, or if something went so well that you'll now do it automatically and can instead implement a new habit. It's extremely enjoyable to keep crossing things every day.
Oh I missed the instructions!! Oops! I love this idea though. It's exactly the sort of thing that helps keep me focused. I keep loving this planner more and more 😂
so many things to say about your reflections here! Your experiences of 'fragmentation' of your attention is one that lots of the writers I work with talk about and when it comes to social media especially I often advise people to think of it in seasons. There are seasons when your attention should be on your creative work, and others when it's necessary to focus on connecting with others in order to promote your work, but it's actually really hard to do both at the same time, especially when you add in all the demands of having a family, and possibly a job on top!!
Thank you, Nicola. Yes, this makes sense. I really did go for it during the year after my book was published, and now it's time to withdraw inwards to where the stories reside. I just read such a disheartening article on promotion in The Author by an anonymous author detailing everything they'd done to promote their books, which strangely made me feel better. I'm not alone in my experiences, and now it's up to me to work out how to do it on my own terms.
Yes exactly - I had this exact conversation with a writer in my membership towards the end of last year. She was feeling quite jaded with Instagram as her book came out in Sept and she had been ON IT for months. I pointed out to her that she had been sprinting for months when Instagram is really a marathon, and happily she had already decided to get to Christmas and then reset her priorities. I’d love to read that article in The Author - is it accessible to everyone to read?
I had a look for the article, but couldn't find it. I can take pictures and message you if you like?