This week was probably the last of my busy weeks now that the university has switched to online and my only obligation to leave the house is for work or if I run out of food. I’m hoping my work hours will be reduced, and if I self-discipline properly, my productivity should go up next week. My priority will be my university work but I do want to make the most out of writing while I am self-isolating. I have my computer available to me all day and so I should be making the best of a bad situation.

This week has been done a little differently because I’ve actually been working on my assignments and reading (who would have thought) and so time has also been dedicated to that. Staying indoors and writing has also been doing my head in a little so I have been spending more time playing games and doing puzzles that I should have. The beginning of the week was also busy and chaotic because of the changes at the university and the classes I did have to go to, so I didn’t write really anything for the first half of it.

I’ve been working on the same three projects that I mentioned in my last reflection, but have done mostly editing on my Creative Project whilst working to get it under the word count. That means that, though I’ve done work on it, I would have a minus ‘words written’ for it even though I’ve been working on it. So, from now on I won’t include it in the counts.

The Doll is definitely going to be bigger than I originally thought it would be (I just passed the milestone count and we’re not close to the ending) and I’m gearing up to start editing TAS. I don’t have access to a printer right now and am not keen to go into the university to get the manuscript printed off but I’ve found that I very much prefer to edit on a physical copy. I can’t write my manuscripts anymore because of my wrist injuries, but I really do prefer working with pens and paper. It’s also better for my eyes, particularly with copy-editing and catching those things that my eyes normally can’t focus on when staring at the screen for too long.

Currently, my targets for the week are at:

• 9,436/ 10,000 for “Personal Writing”
• 4,207/ 5,000 for “Professional Writing”

I didn’t quite meet my targets but I got close enough that I’m not entirely mad at myself. I did well, but I can definitely do better and will endeavour to do so. I may have to rethink my targets if I want to incorporate proper editing and reading time. Or I need to figure out a way to increase my productivity without doing drugs. Probably the latter one. Judging by the reaction of some of my peers, 10,000 words is quite a lot to write in a week, but I don’t think it’s enough and want to raise it if I can start to consistently maintain it. But I guess only time will tell whether or not I’ll lower or raise it.

I don’t have nearly as much to write as I normally would because this week has been a blur, but hopefully next week I’ll hit both of those targets. I hope the weather goes back to being cooler and cloudy so I can actually sit at my desk without squinting and enjoy my hot tea without having to turn my fan on. I might have to switch back over to iced coffee for a while.

Weather. Wat r u doin.

Bring on the caffeine.

That’s my Writing Reflection for the week starting the 16th March 2020.