I've joined a writing accountability group to kick off this new year, which is basically eight sessions of concentrated writing time with a group of other writers, all working on various projects, all needing the discipline of a schedule. We meet via Zoom and after a short ten minute intro we all dive in to our projects.
First I need to figure out what my project is, then I'll dive in.
In the meantime I blog. Is my blog a project? It could be if I were more disciplined, hence the need for a group. I used to blog more often and the words just flew out of my brain and onto the screen. These days too many words constantly swim in my head and most days I can't figure out how to coalesce them into something anyone would want to read.
When I started blogging I was living overseas and had kids in college. The years rolled by and there were moves and retirement and daughters getting married and grand babies coming and all of these seasons of living and the events they brought with them were easy to write about. I know my niche and try to stay in my lane because that's when I do my best writing.
What is my lane in 2022?
While I've lost some of my focus during the 'Covid years' I know the extraordinary ordinary of everyday life is still my wheelhouse. I actually think we need more of it in the online world. The real world too. Less arguing over everything under the sun, more noticing life's small beauties on a regular basis.
So that's where we're headed. Where I'm headed. Where I'm steering the proverbial blog car in the year ahead. Likely more of a Sunday drive as opposed to 500 laps around a racetrack at breakneck speed, but still buckle up. Sunday drives can be full of surprises too.
I think it's inevitable that there will be ups and downs in blogging/writing the same as there are in life. The last couple of years have certainly added some major curveballs for us to navigate. Good luck with the group.
ReplyDeleteThat group sounds interesting! Hello there, I think I found you through another blog, I just can't remember whose. ;) I follow my favorite author on Instagram and have read all her books and one thing she said in her memoir of sorts, is that when she made the decision to write, she knew she had to sacrifice something else. So she started waking up early three days a week while her kids were young and she would write for four hours on each of those days and that was when her first series of books was written. I find that so interesting! I have been blogging here in this online community for almost fifteen years and I'm starting to write more, the older I get, for magazines and websites. I'm trying to be more disciplined in how I spend my time alone during the week days. I've not quite accomplished this yet, but I said all of that to say that I feel your words here. I hope you're inspired in your time each day and that the words start flowing once again.
ReplyDeleteThis post was so encouraging to me, Joyce, especially since I have decided to get back to blogging! You are so right, those Sunday drives can be full of surprises. Thank you for the encouragement, enjoy your writing class.
ReplyDeleteSue
Your group sounds so interesting and challenging and fun! I agree that we need more everyday - more beauty. I always look forward to reading your posts.
ReplyDeleteLet's hope that in 2022, more of us will want to blog frequently.
ReplyDeleteAt the beginning of this Horror, I remember being a Cheer Leader for frequent blogging, to keep us connected, and to sort of "hold each other's hand," during the Horror.
Now I hope we can keep connected, with frequent blogging, while we find our individual paths, out of this Horror. Each of us, finding our own way, to live, post Horror. -smile-
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“Anne came dancing home
in the purple winter twilight
across the snowy places.”
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Discipline. Yes. I understand. Sigh. Good for you getting into the class!! xo
ReplyDeleteMy blogging is down to once a week from daily, but I look at that as a good thing - less forced. I enjoy honest writing and you have that in spades. Blogging has evolved and I believe has it’s place even in our Instagram world.
ReplyDeleteI like Sunday drives...
ReplyDeleteHi, Miss Joyce. Funny you should mention being in a writing accountability group. Our team at work is doing something similar this semester. We are studying the book "How to Write a Lot" by Paul J. Silvia. In between discussion sessions, we're having writing sessions where, like your group, we meet over Zoom and write together. Though the focus is academic writing, the tips and strategies apply to any kind of writing.
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