(source: ideachampions.com)
Hello Family and Friends,
Some changes are ahead for the ol’ Happiness Project. I’ve read many other writer’s blogs and listened as they adapted their schedules to get more writing time. I held off as long as I possibly could. I made rules and tried to live by them hoping I could prepare blogs ahead and still work on my book. But, it wasn’t happening.
So, I’ve decided to make a big change in order to focus on my writing more. I’m limiting my blogging to twice a week. Starting in February, I’ll blog on Tuesdays and Fridays. Tuesday will be my “anything goes” day blogging about all things paranormal, travel-related, book and movie reviews, and any tales from my accident prone life! Friday will remain on it’s alternate schedule of Guilty Pleasure Fridays and then Life List Club guest posts. I may on occasion throw in a 3rd post, but only if I have something or someone really awesome to share with you!
This decision was not made easily; I’d been thinking about it for awhile and finally decided it’s time. The biggest wake up call is the fact that I’m completely starting a new writing project. I’d been working on one paranormal fiction piece for the last year and started over with that about 6 or 7 times. I’m getting really good at beginnings! But after workshopping it with my Warrior Writer’s Boot Camp team, I realized the direction it was going didn’t have my heart in it any longer. I’d still like to come back to this project, but I need time to really hash it out.
My new endeavor is one that I feel right with and one I know won’t fizzle halfway through. I’m taking the opportunity to write about my family. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do and I figure now’s as good a time as any. All those wacky stories about my dad and those life threatening instances with my siblings are going to get put on page! That is, provided my siblings don’t tie me to a stop sign again or bury me in the sandbox for revealing these tales.
I’d also like to take the advice of two wonderful friends and bloggers Pam Hawley and Sonia G. Medeiros and spend time writing short stories and learning about the craft. Nina Badzin is another great blogger to follow with tips for social media and she really woke me up one day on the importance of submitting your work and building credit to your name. In order to submit good work, I need to dive in and study more. Eliminating one day’s blog post will give me another day to work on these projects.
I hope the change doesn’t impact my readership. I love you guys so much, you have no idea! You are my motivation for making this change so I can work on the really important thing for a writer to have: a book. But none of it would be worthwhile if I didn’t have readers. So I still plan on being a pest in your comment sections and chatting up with all of you here.
Thanks for listening! Stay tuned!
But wait, there’s more!!!
More Blogs That Ask Questions and Give Great Advice:
Kate Wood blogs about Fear and Change, asking writers the difficult questions and challenging them with smart advice.
August McLaughlin could save your life by reading her post Trusting Your Instincts; this is one you don’t want to miss.
Kristen Lamb gives a holistic approach to writing in 3 Steps to Freedom – Grab Hold of Your Brilliant Future.
Need to remember why you started blogging? Jenny Hansen writes I’m Having a GREAT Time – What About You?
The hilarious Chuck Wendig gave us 25 Things Writers Should Start Doing, and I really like his list.
Jess Witkins' Happiness Project 
Good for you! I was wondering how you can keep up your busy schedule and crank out 3 posts a week, too. Writing comes first, platform is second. (reminding myself, too)
You’ll feel so much less pressure now.
I think writing a book about your family is a great idea and I can imagine your humor injected in all the right spots. I hope you’ll post an excerpt now and then.
As far as submitting fiction to contests and publications, I’ve done it once, a flash fiction contest on WOW (Women on Writing) and placed pretty well. I haven’t felt I’ve written anything equally good since then, so haven’t submitted. It’s a fun experience you should definitely try. Congrats on your changes! They will make for a happier Jessi-girl!
Oh you are the best partner a writer could ask for! Thanks for the love and support, Marcia! I appreciate you and your motivating words so much.
As the Templar said in Indiana Jones, “You have chosen … wisely.”
Bravo for choosing to write more! I’ll miss your posts, but seriously … can’t wait to read your work. =)
Thanks Ellie Ann! Hoping this change also means a chance to read more posts of bloggers I love, such as yourself! I mean, an Indiana Jones reference…hells yah!
I’m sure all of us who read your blog will be waiting right here. We’re not going anywhere.
Good decision about your writing time.
Patti
Thanks for being one of my biggest fans Patti! I mean it, not worth it without you!
First off, I’m so thrilled for you! Too few have the courage and wherewithal to prioritize and sacrifice for their passions. Can’t wait to follow your success! Second, thanks for including my link! Such an honor. 🙂
Yours is a newer blog I’ve discovered and I love it, August! Keep writing! I know it won’t be the last mash up of mine your name appears in.
I agree with Jess. I recently discovered your blog and enjoy it, too, August.
Great choice, Jess (yep, you just upgraded from Witkins) *grins*
The writing should always come first, after all, it is the reason the majority of us started blogging. By the way, the stories about your dad are some of my favorites and I guarantee you’ve already sold one copy. Another interesting idea might be a storyline with an accident prone traveler, comedy, of course.
Be well and all the best for your new and improved journey 🙂
Ah, thanks, Lempp…I mean Gene. You just may be onto something with that story idea. Is it autobiographical? Oh…I get it. Grrrrr
Congratulations for making those tough writing choices. I’m amazed at people who bog multiple times a week! I don’t know how they do it, especially if there are other life committments like a job, family, etc… I decided to upgrade to two times a week this year, and already am feeling a crunch. I think it’s great that you are putting those fiction writing “things” first. Good luck with all things writerly!
Thank you Lara. I hope you enjoy your increased blogging adventure! I will say it helps a lot to blog ahead. But who knows what the Life List Club will bring? You could have more guest posts coming your way!
So, let me get this straight: you’re going to write less…so you can write more?
Jess, that’s brilliant!!
Seriously, devoting time to a book about your family sounds like a wonderful idea. And I’ve always said I wanted to work on short stories more…maybe this will inspire me! We’ll see. Good luck, and you know we’ll still be here twice a week, once a week, or thirty times a week!
OK, maybe not thirty. Some of us do have lives, you know…
I was really hoping one of your goals was going to be personally visiting my blog to up my site views by 30 each week. You were kidding? I’m disappointed, Mark.
Yay for you! It’s hard to cut back on the blogging but it’s such a relief too. I’m so much more relaxed since cutting back to 2 regular days a week. Less stress = more happiness = better writing. 😀
I sure hope so. Here’s to taking your lead, Sonia! Thank you for sharing your journey with us.
Good luck with your new writing project, Jess.
Thanks Lynn! I’ve got plenty of work to do, but I hope by this time next year I’ll really see some headway made.
Glad you didn’t decide to cut LLC to make more writing time. I would cry.
LOL. I didn’t want to do that. I’d miss you guys; tears and all! 😉
It’s a good decision, Jess. Write on!
Thank you Patricia!
I think you’re making the right decision, Jess. Absolutely! Mid-2011 I started posting only once a week on Mondays. I was stressing about what I was going to post about before and getting few visits since, I think, I had little time to visit the blogs of others. Now, I spend so much more time visiting and am getting so many more visits. I write a bit at work during breaks (it’s nice being the boss) and read before bed. I would do more were it not for that darn 11-12 hr day job!!
Good luck to you with the writing.
-Jimmy
I wish I could read and write at work!!! But I love that you’re seeing improved readership from being able to read more authors and comment with them. Goes along with Kristen Lamb’s giving more than you get, it will all come back to you when you least expect it. Congrats Jimmy! Hopefully now I can come hang out at your place more!
Good for you Jess! Good luck with your writing!
Thanks Vix! I know you’re working on some life changes too so best of luck on your money saving plan and keep me posted! We can help each other…”Step away from the jewelry counter!”
Jess, I think it’s wonderful that you’ve figured out a direction that makes you happy (since this is the Happiness Project after all)! It’s exactly as Sonia said…you feeling comfortable will equal fantastic writing.
Blogging actually HELPS me because of the whole blog-to-book thing, and it sounds like your family story will be helped along by your posts here. I’m with Gene…I want copy #2!
Thanks for including my post – I’m keeping some great company up there!!
Thanks Jenny for the love! I am overwhelmed with how supportive everyone’s been with me making this change. I appreciate your help.
And of course you’re in good company!
I think it’s a great decision! Focus on what’s important and don’t overload yourself. I barely manage to blog twice a week.
You also just moved. I think we’ll cut you some slack! LOL. Thanks for the confidence, Sara!
You’re making the smart choice. Blogging is great fun (most of the time), but it can also be overwhelming trying to keep up with our schedule, and the books are always the most important thing. And we’ll all keep reading whether you post one, two, or three times a week 🙂
Thank you Marcy! I hope I get my act together now. Looking forward to hosting you soon!
Understandable. I’m having the same issues, too. It’s hard to juggle several things at once–sanity, job, and writing (a.k.a. the ideal profession). Good luck and wish you good luck. 🙂
Hi Marilag! Thanks for your support and always cheering this whole writing community on! You’re the best!
Jess, I’m glad you’re doing what you need to do to “do it all!” I can tell you that my decision to cut back doesn’t seem – at least not yet – to have hurt my overall site stats. And I feel so much less stressed … when I’m working on a WIP I don’t always have “blog blog blog you have to write your blog” drumming against some achy spot in my brain : ).
I told you then I was considering doing this, and I kept putting it off and putting it off thinking I’LL MANAGE! But I was cheating myself most of all cause I had NO time to work on the WIP. Glad to hear the change has been working better for you; I appreciate your foresight big time.