It’s 2022. Not only that, it’s the first Wednesday of 2022, making it Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Happy New Year!
IWSG Question of the Month – What’s the one thing about your writing career you regret the most? Were you able to overcome it?
I’m skipping the question because to answer, I feel I would have to consider writing a career for me. It’s not. I’m strictly a hobbyist. Always have been, always will, despite my foray into selling books some years back. I write for the enjoyment of it and nothing rides on me succeeding or failing. Regrets? Pfft! It’s all learning and improvement.
Let’s talk goals for a sec. This year, my only writing goal is this: finish something. Anything. Maybe it’ll be my companion novel. Maybe it’ll be flash of my characters reacting to an assassin. Maybe it’ll be a fresh draft of a massive rewrite (unlikely). All I know, is that I just want to call something done this year. Is that too much to ask?
My goals in other areas are a bit more verbose. In the health and fitness realm, I want to stick to 11-7 fasting on workdays, limit my Red Bull consumption to just days off, and abstain from alcohol the whole year. I also want to complete a GMB Fitness program, which is focused on flexibility and mobility. I’ve given up my aspirations to weigh 120lbs with only 18% body fat and six-pack abs. Now, I aim for something more reasonable: being able to move without hurting myself. I’m going to be 40 this year, and I’ve already got arthritis in my wrist and a tweak in my back. That doesn’t bode well for the 40 years to follow after.
For art, I’ve got two specific goals: learn Blender (3D modeling software) and complete a course on drawing human anatomy. The first one has no practical applications for me right now. I just want the skills so I can someday 3D print figurines of my characters. But the latter will strengthen my character drawings in the long run, and probably help when it comes to sculpting my characters in Blender. I don’t know when I’ll have time to focus on these goals, but there they are.
I think out of the above, writing is most achievable. I’ve kept consistent with getting words down in the morning, even if some days it’s less than 50. I’m not quite done with my companion novel changes that the shift in chapter 2 caused. But I have made progress and I’ve developed some ideas on how to tie in the main character’s seamstress skills into the still-nebulous final confrontation. She probably won’t be busting out the needle and thread to fight off the foe, but maybe her fashion sense can recognize trouble before it’s too late? Hmm.
What are your goals for this year? Have you ever wanted to do frivolous learning? Do you have regrets in writing?
About Insecure Writer’s Support Group
You can find the sign up for the IWSG here. We owe Alex J Cavanaugh a huge thank you for thinking this blog hop up.
I am conflicted about whether I’m a hobbyist or trying for a writing career. I don’t always write many words when I sit down to write either. But I enjoy the process, and I’m taking it day by day.
Love your healthy living goals. They are so important to have.
You can totally finish something this year, Loni! Go for it! 🙂
Sounds like you have some good goals. Finishing something is awesome. I bet you’ll do it!
Have a happy, healthy, and productive 2022!
Happy New Year, Loni!
“Regrets? Pfft! It’s all learning and improvement.” Yes! I applaud that.
I am wishing you well on all of your goals. And if you do something small and manageable, I have all the faith you’ll be able to finish it. 🙂
P.S. Sorry it has taken me so long to return a visit.
Understanding what we want out of our writing goes a very long way. I, too, am hoping to finish a writing project this year.
My fitness goals are very modest, but I, too, would like to be able to move without hurting myself, so maybe I should look into doing something more?
Best of luck with your 2022 goals, and Happy New Year!
Sounds like you have a handle on what you want to achieve this year. Flexibility and moving without pain are important – just wait until you cross fifty.
You’ve got this! I’m so impressed with your health goals. I need to get my body moving more, and I’m cutting out soda except on special occasions. Not that I drink a lot now, but I feel like I had a lot over the holidays. Good luck and take care!
You are one busy squirrel from the sound of things. Good for you! Send me some of your ambition and energy please.
I don’t even think I can call myself a writing hobbyist. I apparently like the idea of writing more than the actual act.
Have a wonderful 2022!
Arlee Bird
Tossing It Out
I like you’re goal of finishing something 🙂 Me too 🙂 as far as fitness, I’d like to get back my toned figure and more flexibility. It’s hard though when you hit 40. The body hurts no matter how many pounds I lift 🙂 I did just order some sort of workout recovery drink and I’m hoping it helps. Sigh. Good luck with all of your dreams 🙂
Your MC could sneak into enemy camp with a seam ripper and slit a few stiches in the pants of her foes, causing them to rip their britches at the height of the battle. 😀
But seriously… I feel like writing is a hobby, too. I don’t want it to be, but until I can cut back on hours at my day job, I won’t have the amount of time I’d like to devote to it. I’ve accepted that there are seasons to life.
Don’t know if I could call myself a hobbyist – after all I have been consistently writing for a local professional newspaper for almost 15 years now – but I’m definitely not a career writer in regards to fiction. At one time, I wanted to be. Now, I think if I write the stories that pop into my head, I would be satisfied. If I published those stories, that would’ve been even better, but so far… I’m much better at writing than at publishing.
You can do it, Loni. Just one step at a time. Enjoy the journey to get there even if you don’t necessarily find the end this year (because we all know how life can change the best laid plans).
Goals? Nothing so concrete. Ideas, yes.
I love your plans and have no doubt some (if not all) of them will get done. 🙂
Anna from elements of emaginette
You’ve got some great goals! In terms of writing, I’m going to incorporate an idea my daughter suggested and simply set a specific amount of time for writing on certain days, without any word count or particular content demand. I did point out that Jack used that technique in The Shining. 😆
I like the twist you’re considering for the ending with the seamstress.
And at 55, I’ve realized I will never be a swimsuit model. I may hover around 110-115 (don’t worry, I’m only 5’3″, barely) but it’s not toned enough for a bikini. And I no longer care! (But being able to kneel without wondering what else I can do down there before painfully rising would be a plus.)
No regrets. I love frivolously learning — though is it frivolous if it’s learning? Nah, it great for the brain. That’s how I see it.
This sounds like a year of awesome to me. And nothing is frivolous if it brings you happiness.
And I can’t believe you’re 40. You look 25.
Cheers to 2022!
Sounds like you are living life to the fullest. I especially liked your goal of ‘being able to move without hurting myself.’
Wishing you all the best in 2022.
There is no such thing as frivolous learning. All learning is useful. Even if there’s no immediate goal in sight.
Good luck on finishing something. I know you can do it.
My goal is to finally publish a book this year. Everything else is gravy. Okay, after my visit with the doctor today and seeing my weight, I realize I need to shed some pounds, so I guess that goes on my list of to-dos also.
As far as learning Blender, my daughter has been learning that program for making 3D figures for virtual reality games. She says Udemy has lots of course on learning Blender, and tomorrow is the last day of their yearly New Year sales (most classes are 10 to 12 dollars). If you’re interested, my daughter says to look at classes designed for version 2.8 or higher.
Have a happy 2022!
I absolutely love learning, frivolous and otherwise! I think those are great goals. Good luck in learning new things and completing a project.
The Warrior Muse
I had such a chuckle when I read your title.
Hobbyist writer? Career writer? I don’t entertain these thoughts. Not too much. If I dwell on this aspect, then it may derail the journey.
Put it this way, I’ve always been a reader but never planned on being a writer. It just happened.
Happy New Year to you – the same ol squirrel! 😄
I’m out here cheering for you, Loni.