Eight Months Through

[smallhobbit]

And therefore time for another review of this year's goals.

Goal No 1 - Write all the things

My wordage so far this year stands at 168,000, which exceeds last year's final total, so yay!  Once again I've been considering Get Your Words Out, especially as this year there will be the option to pledge for number of days rather than total words.  After some thought, because it seems like a good idea, I've decided against signing up.  I already keep a writing diary in which I note what I've been writing on, plus the words written for a completed fic, so I can see if I've not written anything at all (even a blog post), because there's a blank space.  And I know why there are the occasional spaces, so I don't feel like signing up and giving myself unnecessary pressure, not at this stage.

I've written about 60% of my Small Fandom Big Bang, which this year is Grantchester.  And I've also written a significant part of the next Lewis casefic in my Oxford Tales series.  I've been regularly participating in whatif_au and finding I'm not that keen on AUs.  I've produced something for apocalyptic, time travel, magic and space, none of which inspire me.  I enjoyed the war AU (so many periods of English history to use) and spooky in October - the only time I write spooky.

I'm continuing with my usual challenges, and have written for Holmestice and Yuletide.  Only one new badge from fan_flashworks this time, but there aren't very many I'm working for at the moment:




Goal No 2  - Write a monthly pastoral assistant post

This is continuing.  The next one will be done next week and may well have various thoughts because I have been thinking.


Goal No 3 - Try twelve new things

I haven't managed this month's challenge yet, but maybe tomorrow ...

Meanwhile I am continuing slowly with my crochet.  It's taken a back seat for the last two weeks, what with the stress from my car accident, plus starting to write my 12 Days of Christmas ficlets.  However, I realised I couldn't possibly do a post without having some progress pictures to share (such is the power you, my flist, have over me), that I finally got on with it and we therefore have a completed body:



Which means all Holmes lacks is his outdoor garments:

Comments

[tripleransom]

Hee! Actually, he needs hi pipe also, surely? I don't imagine you intend to crochet a violin for him! (If you do, I want the directions).

I also want you to know I'm in awe of your mad writing skillz!

[smallhobbit]

I have no idea how to crochet a pipe, let alone a violin!

And thank you for your kind comment regarding my writing.

[mafief]

Woah, congrats on the word count and productivity this year. :)
The crocheted Sherlock is coming along nicely.

[smallhobbit]

Thank you very much.

I've been pleased with how Sherlock is turning out.

[talkingtothesky]

Woooo, that is an amazing wordcount! :D

I signed up for Get Your Words Out 2018. I've missed signups every year until now. I'm going for a wordcount one, since some days are just too busy for writing. I can always make up the words on a quieter day. I find at this point being accountable to more than just myself is handy. I already track my daily words, and I'd just like to push myself a tiny bit more.

Your crochet Holmes is cute and impressive <3

[smallhobbit]

Thank you very much.

Yay for signing up to GYWO - I know what you mean about being accountable, as you can see from my need to do so crochet! I think it can certainly help.

I'm delighted you like my crochet Holmes.

[moth2fic]

Once or twice I've been lured into joining comms that monitor wordcounts etc. and have found they add to stress levels without actually increasing my productivity. But like you, I monitor myself quite closely. I haven't met this year's goals but that, I think, is due to a deluge of real life so I'm offering myself forgiveness and a fresh start in 2018. I think comms that provide encouragement (like ushobwri) are my best bet!

Well done on all your achievements - especially the crochet, which fills me with total awe.

[smallhobbit]

That was my feeling. I write fic or blog or write a comm post - ushobwri and elsewhere - most days and I notice if there's a blank day in my writing diary. I don't need added pressure, but comms which cheer, or commiserate, without specific expectations are helpful.

But strangely, the need to report some progress on my current craft to my flist, made me do some crochet. But maybe that's the whole point of sharing my goals, to encourage me to achieve them. As for the crochet itself - it is not something I see myself continuing with.