It’s the end of the first quarter of 2015 and I must admit that my New Year’s Resolution to write for one hour every day has slipped a little. Argh! I’ve been writing in dribs and drabs but these little scraps don’t add up to one hour each day. IamnotafailureIamnotafailure I keep telling myself.
Of course I have excuses: my job with The Reader Organisation! My kids! My husband! Life! There’s no point in beating myself up, that’s just wasted energy.
More time will soon be available to me and I am starting to feel de-mob happy and frivolous about this. At the end of April, my paid work for The Reader Org will have come to an end. My work laptop, printer, and mobile phone will be returned. I’ll have more space in my house and in my head.
Until then, I’m renewing my resolve to write daily, even if it’s for five minutes. I’m not timing myself.
I’m still on track to submit something (at least one poem) for publication SOMEWHERE at least once a month.
I have seven poems out in circulation at three magazines. The Morning Star have accepted another of my poems, I’m just waiting to hear when they’ll post it. And I’m just beginning to make plans to arrange a few more readings. So not too shoddy, all things considered.
Some good things to look forward to in April:
- Ten Pre-Modern Poems by Women, a free online poetry course led by Eavan Boland, starts today
- National Poetry Month
- more poems will be posted at And Other Poems
- plus the winners of the National Poetry Competition and Ted Hughes Award for New Work in Poetry will be announced, lots of new publications coming out, napowrimo and much more. Plus, it’s Spring in the UK (allegedly).
Three quarters of the cake still to eat. Make sure you enjoy it.
Josephine Corcoran 
I have exactly the same problem! I think even squeezing in five minutes here and there will make difference. Keep going!
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Thanks for the encouragement, Claire! I agree, every little makes a difference and the important thing is not to stop. Thanks for commenting 🙂
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My mantra now is ‘do what you can when you can’ (if the mood suits) as I’ve long since stopped beating myself up over not writing every day. I used to hear other writers say if you’re a writer then you write every day. That might work for some but it doesn’t work for me. I need to get out and about as much as I need to sit in front of a laptop. I think you’re doing great juggling a job and family commitments as well as still submitting poems, doing readings and writing in bursts. That sounds very successful to me and not what I consider as a failure! x
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Thanks for the cheerleading, Helen! Much appreciated. I like the do what you can when you can mantra. Good advice. 🙂 x
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I really admired your New Year’s resolution when you announced it back in January, because that’s always been my impetus, but like you’ve found, “the best-laid plans of mice and men …” . I think it is also subtle peer pressure (often felt through social media) that makes us feel we should be doing more with our talents–it’s not anyone saying this, but more through exposure: i.e., learning what others have been achieving and erroneously taking it on board that we should doing the same. As has already been mentioned, we do what we can and must appreciate/cherish what we are able to create in the time that we find. That counts for a great deal.
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Thanks for commenting, Charles. 🙂 I guess the best thing is to do what works best for you and ignore all other advice. I like your idea of taking note and cherishing what we’re able to achieve.
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It’s not fashionable to hold out against the “write every day” injunction but I hold to the freedom to do what works best for each of us individually. For me it’s important to be receptive, connecting, gestatory during the daily stuff we do when not actively writing; to stay open and surprisible and maybe churning. Then when we sit down to write there’s something part-formed to say hello to. Fret not – your dough is rising !
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Lovely comment, thank you Jinny! 🙂 Love the idea of my ideas growing into loaves! x
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Just used up all my writing time replying to a friends e-mail. Which is good. And it’s still writing. In fact, everything is writing. Even when you’re herding children, cooking or just getting through, you’re still writing. Also I’d like to second what Clare and Helen said too! 🙂
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Thanks for the comment, Jim 🙂 Yes, we’re all doing the best we can.
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I appreciate this post and the reminder to focus on the positive things.
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Thanks for reading, Ruth. It’s good to stay positive. 🙂
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Did anyone mention that you’re not a failure? There. I did.
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Ha! Thanks, Jeff. I know, I know, I keep repeating myself to offer reassurance 🙂 Hope all is well with you.
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positive energy and powerful –
“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”
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Definitely not a failure! And you are an inspiration to many people – thank you. Congratulations too on the Morning Star acceptance – look forward to reading that when it’s published.
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Oh, thanks for such a kind comment, Hilaire! All good wishes, Josephine 🙂 x
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