As anyone who reads this blog knows, January 2012 has been #Writemotivation month – to kickstart our goals for the year.
So far, at least for me, this has gone astoundingly well. I’m well on my way to completing the goals I set and more. Not to mention I’m having a blast cheering people on and seeing them hit milestones or obstacles, but trying to work through them. It’s a great sense of camaraderie. Sharing positivity and pushing each other towards our goals is motivational all by itself.
This brings me to the conversation I was having with my awesome friend Jamie Dement(you may know her as Lady Jai). If you don’t follow her blog, you should – she’s rather inspirational.
This conversation resulted in two general ideas
- Writemotivation shouldn’t be an occasional thing. It should be an all the time thing. You don’t just need it once every now and again – a constant stream of it can help lift your head on a bad day, or remind you the next day that other people know how you feel and will cheer you on. We’ll continue the hashtag for anyone who likes that #writemotivation cheer anyway.
- A Writemotivation Goal-Check month every other month might be a fantastic idea.
I see you all saying: Goal-Check Month? What does she MEAN?
Writemotivation Goal-Check Months Idea/Concept/Thingi
We’ll have people sign up and announce their goals for that month and follow the rules of #writemotivation (visit other’s blogs, interact on twitter on a semi-regular basis, mention #writemotivation in a post per week). Since it’s not about beating the other people and getting votes; the only type of competition is with yourself and that damned writer’s ego. The prizes will reflect completion rather than placing/winning.
As prizes I’m willing to offer first 5/10 page critiques from me (This may vary depending on the month and my time – and if people have work at this stage). I’d be willing to do this for everyone who completes their goals in a group the original size (which was 23 people), but I may require help for prizes if we get more to sign up.
I’d love to hear ideas on things people would like to donate, if you’re so inclined. Please remember though, it’s a token for pushing towards your goals and attaining them. Query help. Web help. Things like this are more in the vein I was thinking.
If we have multiple types of prizes, we’ll just do a random drawing to see who gets what out of those who complete their goals at the end of the month.
The alternating months would be: Jan, March, May, July, September, November (which would go in hand with NaNo Cheering) or we could make that swap with December if people would prefer.
Now – my questions for you are:
Would this appeal to you? If not – can you think of other ways to make #writemotivation more fun and help keep us on track towards our goals? Are you interested in a continued #writemotivation hashtag effort to encourage each other on this lonely (but awesome) endeavour?
Please let me know. I’d love #writemotivation to work for everyone!
Personally, I think it’s a great idea to continue #writemotivation. It has helped me a lot in the past few days as I struggled with taking care of my grandmother, and still trying to keep up with my goals. I’d definitely be more than willing to help out with any rewards. Beta reading, or I’m especially good with filling in missing plot pieces. I’ve met a lot of great writers and bloggers through #writemotivation & I think that’s also a good reason why it works and why it should keep on going.
That’s awesome 😀 Thank you hon. I’m so glad you decided to take part in it with us. #writemotivation has been so much fun for me, I’d love to keep it going. Even in the off months I’ll definitely be #writemotivationing
Motivation is always needed – not just sometimes. We’ll definitely keep it going. And every other month we’ll amp it up a bit by making it a bit more fun with rewards 😀
I think this is a wonderful idea. I was hoping #writemotivation would continue because it’s been so wonderful not only to receive a boost from you and Jamie, but to issue confidence to others as well. I’m not much a “web” wizard (ha-ha!) but I would be willing to help with query help (as in like issuing my skills as a reviewer as a prize as well), but also whatever else query may extend to. 🙂 Let’s do it!
Excellent 😀 Thanks, hon. We’ll keep it going as long as it’s helping people. And every other month we’ll arrange a little incentive with rewards attached to attaining your goals in that month 😀 Sounds like a plan?
I’m really happy it gives people a boost.
This is a great idea. I’m a huge fan of #writemotivation and have been loving all the support! I’d be willing to beta 1-3 chapters as a prize, if that becomes necessary or there’s interest.
That’s fantastic 😀 Thanks for offering. This is going to make March great. We’ll continue with mutual motivation through until then. And of course the ‘official’ blog posting about it won’t finish until Jan 30th 😀
I think it’s a great idea, it’s always good to have a community around to support you should you need it, I can only see it being helpful and fun.
I think all writers anywhere need motivation at some stage. That’s what it’s all about 😀
I’m all for continuing it one way or another. The once-every-month schedule is fine by me.
It’s not secret that January hasn’t worked out the way I wanted it to. (I’ll say “so far” but with only 10 days left…) Still, it’s a long year and a long career and one so-so month isn’t gonna get me (too) down.
Cheers to everyone who’s working hard towards their goals.
Thanks Michael. It’s great to have you on board. We’ll continue #writemotivation-ing everyone through this long process. Just because one month doesn’t go quite to plan, doesn’t mean the rest of them won’t.
It’s a long road, but we can do it.
I think it’s a great idea KT. I love the fact that ‘the only type of competition is with yourself and that damned writer’s ego’. I’m so glad #writemotivation is working for you, so why shouldn’t you continue with something that works? I only wish I knew about it earlier! 🙁 Would I be able to sign up, even though I’m not an original member?
Of course you can participate! 😀 It’s not an exclusive group. It’s for anyone who needs and wants to give motivation. Writing is essentially a lonely venture – so if we can help each other a bit by being there for some motivation – the more the merrier 😀
Oh goody! Thanks KT – count me in! :))
I’m so in. Writemotivation is the reason why I’m pushing so hard with finishing the book this month – I feel accountable to others and not just myself. And all the people are awesome, which helps. 🙂
I’d be willing to offer query help and/or chapter critiques. It wouldn’t have to be the first chapters – just any that the writer feels need another eye.
Yay 😀 It’s been so great having you with us. Cheering you on is awesome (especially since you’re planning a wedding and that’s hairy as well).
Thank you 😀 For those who complete one of the every other month goal check ins – it looks like we’re going to have a lot of incentive to get rewards 😀
Sounds like we’re all in the same cheering section. #writemotivation has been so helpful. I’ve had moments where I wasn’t sure if I’d balance the day and find time to get writing done. But then I’d get a tweet mentioning #writemotivation and I’d find the energy to at least get in 250 new words added. Thank you to every one participating. I look forward to continuing this as well.
I’m so glad it’s been working for you. We’ll make sure to #writemotivation you and help you get to your goals. It’s such a relief to know you’re not alone 😀
I think you already know my opinions. And my blog post about my epiphany and freedom from negativity should have spoke volumes to everyone! 🙂 I love the support I’m given and love giving support! I’m all for this! Although I don’t know what I could offer for a prize. But you can have all the support you need!
I think you’re a prize in yourself. No, I’m not biased. It’s called honesty.
I think the support is plenty for everyone. It’s fantastic to wake up and see your positive tweets gearing us all into @writemotivation mode.
It’s a great idea to continue it! I’ve noticed that because of the “pressure” to achieve my goals by the end of the month, it made me push harder to achieve them and to think up creative ways of doing so. I wouldn’t have come this far without it. I had been trying for months! 🙂
I’d like to take part in it until March (and beyond too, if nothing gets in the way), and I can also offer myself to be a beta reader for about 3 chapters. Also I’d like to offer myself as a writing partner. I was thinking that I could exchange opinions on paragraphs, dialogues and other bits of text with other writers with ongoing projects, which wouldn’t be too time consuming for anyone involved. 🙂 If anyone’s interested, just visit my blog to know about my story and leave a comment. 😉
Thanks K.T. and everyone for wanting to continue with the campaign!