Plan your writing year
to finish your draft
If you are having a slow start to the year and are wondering how to get your writing crackling, here’s a few activities that might help.
In a plain paged scrap book with coloured pens, on a new page for each, make maps to show the following:
All the things you want to achieve this writing year.
All the things you need to do to make this possible.
Obstacles you may face and how you will overcome them.
Next
Decide which days/hours of the week will you set aside for writing, mark them in your monthly/yearly planner.
Decide on your daily/weekly goals: e.g. 500 words a day, one chapter a week.
Next
In your planner set aside some total focus periods to get away (alone or with fellow writers)or lock yourself in at home where you will do nothing else but work on your writing project. A long weekend, a week or ten days, a month if you can do it!
Next
Set the date for a finished draft. Write it in your planner, stick it on your computer screen or notice board.
With yourself or a writing friend make a pact to organise your life for this period of time around the writing goals you have set.
(When you need to readjust plans and goals due to life circumstances or human foibles, do so without emotion and carry on as before).
When ever you get stuck, turn to a fresh page and make another map. Use maps for brainstorming trouble spots, character development, dramatic action, structure, descriptive detail, evoking the senses. You can map out your chapter ideas, scenes, themes, and every aspect of your writing project.
See how famous writers used maps, tables, diagrams here.
We all need maps to help us to get where we are going, and Google Maps can’t help you with this one!
Jan Cornall is a writer/performer/teacher who mentors writers and leads international writing workshops and retreats.
April 2–8, 2019 — Bali Writer’s Residency.Total focus on your writing project with in house mentoring and peer feedback.
May 25 — June 1, 2019 — Sensing Italy. A creative immersion in an Italian village in the Le Marche region, near Tuscany.
Oct 6–12, 2019 — Haiku Walking in Japan, a pilgrimage along the ancient Kumano Kodo trail.
March 1–15, 2020 — Moroccan Caravan A creative adventure into the heart of Moroccan culture. Tangier, Chefchaouen, Fes, Tissardmine.
