I had a writing post planned for today, just not this one. It was a rant; a moan; a whinge, and I didn’t want the blog as an outlet for frustrations but a place full of motivation and inspiration.
I’ve certainly been inspired recently. At the end of July, I realised it was annoying me that I wasn’t managing to find time to write: I was too tired when I got home from work and best intentions and all that wasn’t getting me very far.
I started getting up early. I normally get up at 6:45, but set the alarm for 45 minutes earlier with the intention of having a writing session every morning before work.

It’s working. At the time of writing this, I’ve just capped 30k words this month. I know – it’s quality, not quantity. But my ideas flow, inspiration grows and I want to write the more I do it. I can edit afterwards – I needed to start getting words on a page before I could get to that point.
It hasn’t been focused on one project alone: the novel, the blog (although not so much), even getting back into writing fanfiction. Writing has been an escape for me for so long and it’s doing me the world of good embracing that.
I’ve always been a morning person. No wonder my evenings are spent in a tired haze; it’s never been when I’ve functioned at my best. I think I’ve finally realised the importance of listening to what your heart and body want, and if that means getting up early to write so I can start the day feeling satisfied and accomplished, then that’s what I will do.
It’s not just how I’m feeling it has benefited.

After years of talking about my novel, speaking of rewrites and edits and never feel like I’m making progress, I’ve only gone and done it.
I’ve finished the first draft.
Don’t get me wrong, I have so much work to do on it. I’m not sure if it falls under ‘major edit’ or ‘complete rewrite’. I haven’t been letting myself edit for the last couple of months, adamant that I would reach the end of the plot before I started to sort it out.
I was having a writing session on Sunday, trying to make up my word count. Suddenly, it came to a close. A natural conclusion. Did it end where I was expecting? No. But I always overthink final lines, so coming to a natural close has to be much better than trying to stick to a plan.
I haven’t been this excited for it for a long time. I can take a big step forward with it now, and see where it takes me. I’ve figured out some of the parts that are weak and its just a matter of starting at the beginning and working my way through.
Writing each day has definitely moved projects on, and I’m really looking forward to where this takes me!
How about you? Do you find time for your hobbies?

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Reaching 30k is such an achievement! Although I have found why writing my thesis that the more you get into something the easier that it flows! Goodluck with writing in September x
Kayleigh Zara 🌿 http://www.kayleighzaraa.com
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Good luck with your writing! I am currently editing my current novel after finishing the second one. It is a long process and hard to jump into after a tiring day, since it is hot and humid where I live, but I am chipping away in hopes of making a carving. 🙂
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It’s great that you’ve found your writing mojo again! I wrote 30k in July, the most I’ve ever written in a month. It was also due to getting up early, with the #6amAusWriters on Twitter. Consistency is certainly the key.
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I do some of my best work first thing on a morning, but that took me a while to figure out. I get up at 6am and blast through a ton of little tasks. Congrats on the first draft!
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Congratulations on finishing your first draft! That is a huge accomplishment and I am so proud!
Good luck with the editing process and I cannot wait to see your book on shelves ❤
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Love that mug!! I love little motivational everyday things like that haha. Good luck with your writing ❤ x
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Congratulations on finishing your first draft – that is a huge accomplishment that you should be proud of yourself for! I’ve heard so many people say that getting up early to write really makes the difference and after reading your post I am determined to give it a go myself now!
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Congratulations on finishing your first draft!! It’s such a wonderful and strangely cathartic feeling, isn’t it? You did it absolutely right as well, leaving the editing until later. I know quality not quantity is the aim, but when drafting the reality is you can’t have quality until you’ve got the words on the page, and everything can be edited later. It sounds like you’ve really got it sussed, and a great routine working for you.
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Yay on 30k and finishing the first draft. You are right about just putting ideas and the story on paper, we all can edit it later. Keep on writing!
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I agree, well done for reaching 30K. I’m new to writing and blogging and so I am still trying to find what works for me. Fitting writing around my full time work and varying shift patterns, I just write as and when I can at the moment.
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Love this idea! I too have been finding it hard to have the time or energy for writing recently, and even though I’m not really a morning person, I think I might give it a try! And congratulations on getting your first draft written!
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I agree, well done for reaching 30K. I’m new to writing and blogging and so I am still trying to find what works for me. Fitting writing around my full time work and varying shift patterns, I just write as and when I can at the moment.
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[…] I wrote my last writing progress post in August, I was full of good intentions with no plan in place to carry them out. Needless to say, […]
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[…] I wrote my last writing progress post in August, I was full of good intentions with no plan in place to carry them out. Needless to say, […]
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