Leah - February; What A Cracker!

Credit: Openclipart.com

For a short month it seemed really full. Lots of competitions to enter, letters to write and writing to do.

Phew!

And that doesn't take into account blogs, editing and other small projects I have on the go. You guys know about the April A2Z Challenge? I've signed up for that this year. Yep. I know. I'm mad. But it looks like fun! I'll be spending March planning posts and getting my titles sorted so I'm ready to write each one each day. *wipes brow* I know... I'd better have several gallons of tea on hand.

I hope you've all had as good a month as I have.

There have been a couple of falls and slips, but more than anything I've achieved writing-wise I've learned some interesting (and important things about myself). I'd like the share them with you.

~I'm never happy.
Not in the sense that I'm always miserable, but in that I'm always wanting more. Looking to achieve more. Looking to do more. I'm never satisfied would probably be more accurate.
This, in of itself isn't a bad thing, but it has lead to several days of burn out, in which I had no choice but to stop because I was so knackered. Oops.

~I'm more organised than I think I am.
Yes, I slip up every now and then, but my blog is testament to how organised I can be. Three posts a week, with a regular back and forth between my two pen names. Clear and structured blog posts with a sensible message. Goal lists that I generally stick to. Not only that, but I run my household too. I'm not going to win any prizes for cleanliness or cooking, but my house is habitable, my family is well fed and happy. That requires organisation.

~I don't pat myself on the back enough.
I've achieved a lot so far. I measure success differently to some (which, I firmly believe should be the case - success is a very personal thing), but I don't tell myself 'well done.' Linked to the first point I generally say 'right, you've done that... next!'

Why am I sharing this with you?

Credit: Openclipart.com

Because I know for a fact that a lot of you are the same. We writers are a funny breed. We write and write and toil and slave away at our words to make them perfect, but how often do we stop and look at back at what we have done, rather than what we haven't? How often do we take stock and realise just how much we've done?

Unless you're super-duper lucky, you probably have a day job to get through before you can even think about writing. Some f you will have families too. You take care of all of those things and still write, publish, blog, critique, submit, edit and support your peers in doing the same.

You're awesome.

Repeat that to yourself five times a day. You. Are. Awesome.

Trust me, it's the truth, and you deserve recognition for it.

Happy February, good luck in March and I'll see you on the other side.


Leah x
Twitter: @ileandraXraven
Blog: www.ileandraXraven.co.uk
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/illyandraven