Love this! These days, any time I’m not reaching my goals (assuming they are reasonable) I know what the problem is—I need more support/accountability.
Also the phrase “Worm Zoom” just fills me with joy.
Online accountability groups were so helpful when I was writing my last book. My go-tos were London Writer's Salon (they do 8am writers hours at different time zones) and also FocusMate when my energy is more Flaubert. As I have been 'researching' aka procrastinating on the new book, I could do with some accountability as I write the proposal and sample chapters. It looks like 6-8am for you is 2-4pm here in England. See you tomorrow...
That’s great to hear! It helped me focus, too. Took me a few mins to transition from the Zoom to work mode, but then I got into the groove. Thanks for joining, hope to see you again!
Oh, dear, I feel you are right about needing community and accountability. I'm sure you are. I'll try worming along with you when I can, and keep you posted. But I'm not so sure what you mean by "being a serious writer." Whammo! That "serious" just squashes me flat. I hope it's not about effort. Or productivity Or being published. I want to be a writer who simply likes writing. I guess defining serious has to be my next vocabulary lesson. Or maybe a writer is serious who gets pleasure or satisfaction while putting stuff they dreamed up into words that can be read? I can live with that!
Maybe "serious" was too serious of a word! I just mean a writer who actually writes — I think that takes some seriousness of purpose. But yes to pleasure and satisfaction, of course! That's the only way for the reader to feel the same thing. I just know that, in my case, I have to be serious about making myself actually put in the time in order to get to the pleasure and satisfaction, confusingly. Hope to see you on Zoom at some point! (Only if it's helpful for you!)
Thank you, Mason. If you hoped to stimulate folks like me to spend time wriggling outside our boxes, you have succeeded with me. Now you have added "purpose" to "serious" and "goal" as my vocabulary lessons. I do know what you mean, though, and I'm not nitpicking or downplaying the practical reasons for doing things. I think you may be suggesting commitment, even more than "serious purpose." This makes me notice that my commitment is, first, to feel satisfied. Of course, making satisfaction my priority may or may not lead to me picking up my pen. I might go take a walk or a nap instead! I sometimes do! But when I'm satisfied already, and then just write, whatever I write is better.
Great idea! I think we’ve chatted about Hodson’s writing club in our last zoom and I always found the idea brilliant! So glad you’re doing your own version 🙌
At first I said "no," then I wondered what I could get done in a truly focused 2 hours a day. Now I'm waffling through all the doubts and excuses. I might show up tomorrow. Even the option of deciding is a good exercise. Thanks. (Plus, the worm tracks is a cool idea.)
I do think two hours of focused effort a day can yield a *lot* of progress over time. Feel free to drop in if you think it will help — I'm hoping it will help me!
I love this Mason! I'm traveling at the moment, so I don't know that I'll be able to make the Worm Zoom for the next two weeks, but if it's still going in July, I'll definitely join!
Thanks, Jillian! I'd love for you to be able to join — I'm just committing to the next few weeks to start, then I'll decide about if/how long to keep it up. (I'm trying not to overcommit to overambitious projects during the first blush of excitement about them, a problem of mine!!) I'll let you know!
Being accountable has really helped me! I’m sharing serial chapters of my first novel with a small group of readers on a private Substack. Knowing I have to send it out every Friday has helped me overcome resistance, procrastination, and perfectionism, and just write.
Oh, the private Substack is a cool idea! I'm the same way with this newsletter — even though I doubt anyone would complain if I sent it out late, I've never once missed my (self-imposed) deadline.
I think you’re right—most writers need accountability of some kind. All of my screenwriter friends give early script pages to at least one trusted person then give drafts to an inner circle. I’ve always loved the idea of coworking Zooms but haven’t tried one until now. Looking forward to being productive tomorrow morning! Thank you for doing this!
Excellent, look forward to seeing you tomorrow morning! Learning that I may need *multiple* forms of accountability, at all different scales, to get this current project done . . . 🫠
When I read this, I knew I needed this. Worm Zoom isn't conducive to my timezone so I reached out to someone I work with, who I know is keen to become a better DJ and we've committed to publishing a mix a week in July. We've both managed to get one mix done and shared out on the interwebs. Yes, just even having one person who is putting in the effort to create alongside me has shifted me out of my months long hiatus ... which I helpfully forgave myself for via Worm School Lesson #2.
Love this! These days, any time I’m not reaching my goals (assuming they are reasonable) I know what the problem is—I need more support/accountability.
Also the phrase “Worm Zoom” just fills me with joy.
Online accountability groups were so helpful when I was writing my last book. My go-tos were London Writer's Salon (they do 8am writers hours at different time zones) and also FocusMate when my energy is more Flaubert. As I have been 'researching' aka procrastinating on the new book, I could do with some accountability as I write the proposal and sample chapters. It looks like 6-8am for you is 2-4pm here in England. See you tomorrow...
Ah, excellent, so glad you can join — see you tomorrow!
This morning’s first Worm co-working Zoom was fruitful. I actually worked. How did it go for you?
That’s great to hear! It helped me focus, too. Took me a few mins to transition from the Zoom to work mode, but then I got into the groove. Thanks for joining, hope to see you again!
Same. Yay!!
Oh, dear, I feel you are right about needing community and accountability. I'm sure you are. I'll try worming along with you when I can, and keep you posted. But I'm not so sure what you mean by "being a serious writer." Whammo! That "serious" just squashes me flat. I hope it's not about effort. Or productivity Or being published. I want to be a writer who simply likes writing. I guess defining serious has to be my next vocabulary lesson. Or maybe a writer is serious who gets pleasure or satisfaction while putting stuff they dreamed up into words that can be read? I can live with that!
Maybe "serious" was too serious of a word! I just mean a writer who actually writes — I think that takes some seriousness of purpose. But yes to pleasure and satisfaction, of course! That's the only way for the reader to feel the same thing. I just know that, in my case, I have to be serious about making myself actually put in the time in order to get to the pleasure and satisfaction, confusingly. Hope to see you on Zoom at some point! (Only if it's helpful for you!)
Thank you, Mason. If you hoped to stimulate folks like me to spend time wriggling outside our boxes, you have succeeded with me. Now you have added "purpose" to "serious" and "goal" as my vocabulary lessons. I do know what you mean, though, and I'm not nitpicking or downplaying the practical reasons for doing things. I think you may be suggesting commitment, even more than "serious purpose." This makes me notice that my commitment is, first, to feel satisfied. Of course, making satisfaction my priority may or may not lead to me picking up my pen. I might go take a walk or a nap instead! I sometimes do! But when I'm satisfied already, and then just write, whatever I write is better.
Great idea! I think we’ve chatted about Hodson’s writing club in our last zoom and I always found the idea brilliant! So glad you’re doing your own version 🙌
Thanks, Sabrina, really appreciate the support — I'll let you know how it goes!
Long Live Worm School!
🐛 👑 🐛 👑 🐛
At first I said "no," then I wondered what I could get done in a truly focused 2 hours a day. Now I'm waffling through all the doubts and excuses. I might show up tomorrow. Even the option of deciding is a good exercise. Thanks. (Plus, the worm tracks is a cool idea.)
I do think two hours of focused effort a day can yield a *lot* of progress over time. Feel free to drop in if you think it will help — I'm hoping it will help me!
I love this Mason! I'm traveling at the moment, so I don't know that I'll be able to make the Worm Zoom for the next two weeks, but if it's still going in July, I'll definitely join!
Thanks, Jillian! I'd love for you to be able to join — I'm just committing to the next few weeks to start, then I'll decide about if/how long to keep it up. (I'm trying not to overcommit to overambitious projects during the first blush of excitement about them, a problem of mine!!) I'll let you know!
I totally get it! Hope it’s helpful for you!
Being accountable has really helped me! I’m sharing serial chapters of my first novel with a small group of readers on a private Substack. Knowing I have to send it out every Friday has helped me overcome resistance, procrastination, and perfectionism, and just write.
Oh, the private Substack is a cool idea! I'm the same way with this newsletter — even though I doubt anyone would complain if I sent it out late, I've never once missed my (self-imposed) deadline.
I think you’re right—most writers need accountability of some kind. All of my screenwriter friends give early script pages to at least one trusted person then give drafts to an inner circle. I’ve always loved the idea of coworking Zooms but haven’t tried one until now. Looking forward to being productive tomorrow morning! Thank you for doing this!
Excellent, look forward to seeing you tomorrow morning! Learning that I may need *multiple* forms of accountability, at all different scales, to get this current project done . . . 🫠
That emoji! Cracking up. YES!
When I read this, I knew I needed this. Worm Zoom isn't conducive to my timezone so I reached out to someone I work with, who I know is keen to become a better DJ and we've committed to publishing a mix a week in July. We've both managed to get one mix done and shared out on the interwebs. Yes, just even having one person who is putting in the effort to create alongside me has shifted me out of my months long hiatus ... which I helpfully forgave myself for via Worm School Lesson #2.