It was one of those days where I knew there was something I had to do but I couldn’t remember what, exactly. I walked, I did chores, I ran errands. I took care of things that needed to be done. But something nagged at me from the subconscious regions of my mind.
“Don’t forget. Don’t forget,” it whispered.
“Don’t forget what?” I thought, though I never stopped to listen for an answer.
It wasn’t until after I had jotted 762 words on my WIP that it hit me. Square in the head.
I had forgotten my ROW80 check-in. Crap, crap, crap! I didn’t have anything prepared. I had updated my spreadsheet but I didn’t have a clue as to where I was in meeting my goals this week.
What should I do? My brain was full of plotting and characters – I didn’t want to lose those thoughts. If I stopped writing now, they’d surely disappear into the abyss of my chaotic mind. So I wrote, and I wrote, and I wrote some more. I made notes concerning a better beginning. I made comments about future chapters and details I needed to make sure I included. I added to my outline. I accomplished a good amount of work on my WIP last night. But I never did my check-in.
It happens. I’ll just have to make up for it on Sunday. See you then!
I’ve resolved to officially check in once a week, on Sunday. Usually I have a lot less going on that day and can remember to do it! And I’m with you, if I’m in the grove of writing I don’t want to stop to update my goals. Go ahead, keep writing! We’ll wait for the update 🙂
Jennifer, take a deep breathe and stop your worrying! I’m doing what Melinda some others are doing. I’m only posting my ROW80 goals on Sunday. It’s too much for me and I like that I can look back on the entire week and actually see the progress on my goals. A few day for me is not enough.
Secondly, I saw you comment on the Facebook page. Don’t fret. And don’t critique your work yet on the first draft. Just keep moving forward to develop and move the story forward. If you did your homework first by plotting and outlining, let it flow.
Let me know what I can do to help! 🙂
No worries, Jennifer. Like Karen and Melinda, I’ve decided to post only on Sunday … although I’m behind on my goals this week, but that’s an entirely different topic. 🙂
Looking forward to your Sunday update!
sounds like a good choice. I’m a person who can spend so much time making lists and ticking things off, it actually decreases my productivity. enjoy the writing.
+1 for only posting updates on Sunday. I don’t usually accomplish that much in the beginning of the week, and the Weds. check-in was just one more thing to do. After all, it’s all about setting goals that work for us!
Jennifer, I wouldn’t stress too much about not checking -the more important goal was in motion (your WIP -you were right to listen to those voices). 🙂 I check in every approx every week (every other weds and sunday so it roughly makes a week between the two). Keep up the good work! 🙂
Yep, I’m leaning towards Sunday only as well.
Jennifer, if you forgot to post the check in _because_ you were working on your goals… you’re forgiven 🙂 You don’t want to lose momentum.
Keep going!