Writing Journal 9.30.2019: It’s the little short-term goals getting done that matter most sometimes

The picture tonight is of the fall (read: Halloween) lights my wife put up at the house. I decided to use it because I’m getting tired of 80-degree (F)-plus days in Iowa and I’m hoping this was the last one of 2019. I hope.

Not too much change from last week. Same story this week, different day. Trying to find motivation to keep going forward on any and all projects is a slog at least. I think I was getting overwhelmed with trying to do too many long-term projects at once and feeling guilty that some set on the side.

I’m not going to deny that I’m missing my wife, either. Right now I’m stuck only seeing her on weekends if I’m lucky and I now still have eight months of that to go before it’s finished up. It was the best decision for us in the end, but that doesn’t mean it’s going to suck before it’s over.

Pardon me if I talked about this before and you’re hearing it again, but I never understood writers who said they got their best work when they were depressed or in emotional turmoil, hence their decisions to live dysfunctional lives. Whenever I get into a bad mood, I usually have to fight the urge not to just watch TV or surf online the entire day and not be productive. Oddly enough, getting chores done helps to get me in a better mood. Accomplishing stuff seems to get me in a better mood.

And I got a few things done this week. Little things, both professionally and personally, that made me feel like I had really taken care of some business. Not the biggest of things, but enough that I’m seeing forward progress. More and more little victories build on themselves.

One of the biggest is that I’ve finally looked for and found a pro proofreader for my Project A. I’ve already had two beta readers go through it and I’ve done at least three rounds of revisions, and I think this will be the next step before I feel comfortable enough trying to shop this property around. To make sure you are taken seriously, I think it is money well spent for a good proofreader. She’s a local writer (who I promise to plug after the work is done, thanks very much).

So with that, the stats. Not too much to look at this week (mostly fan fiction, lol) I’ll just show it below and tell you to have a good night. I’ll check in soon.

+8,794 words written.

Days writing: 7 of 7.

Days revising/planning: 0 of 7 for 0 total minutes.

Daily Writing Goals Met (500+ words or 30 minutes of planning/revisions): 7 of 7 days.