When I set out to learn about my mother's bridge club, the Jewish octogenarians behind the matching outfits and accessories, I never expected to fall in love with them. This is the story of the ladies, their game, their gen, and the ragged path that led me back to my mother.Day 18. If you’ve fallen off a few days it’s not a big deal. This isn’t AA where you have to start all over on Day 1 if you “slipped.” If you’re here and you’re trying to write and you’re struggling, you’re in the right place. The beauty is you just need to find 30 minutes. Not a day, not a half day, not a room of your own, not a silent car, all you need is thirty minutes. I have to tell you, I had no idea when I floated this idea what would happen. For me, it’s been completely liberating. Every day, I can find thirty minutes and my project likes the attention.
Please weigh in and let us know how you’re doing.
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Betsy Lerner 
almost 6000 words in 10 days of writing. it’s bad but i don’t care–it’s new writing.
rea
I’m researching my newest project right now and there’s a lot of it to do. Posting to my blog every other week is the majority of the writing I’ve been doing lately. This thirty minutes a day has been a breath of fresh air and a great way to stay in the game. So far, I’ve only missed yesterday but I jumped right back in it today. I’ve enjoyed your posts, your provocative questions/statements at the end, and everyone’s comments! Thanks for this, Betsy!
I’m a fucking wreck. But I’m writing!
I really like all these comments. And I especially like liking them without the tyranny of the “like” button.
“Please weigh in and let us know how you’re doing.”
I’m doing well, thank you. Writing continues apace. I’m a bit overweight, but that’s another issue.
I haven’t produced anything earthshaking, but I’m building muscle, getting a sense of how I can fit the thirty into my day. I’m all over the place in terms of subject matter—and I’m going to have to spend some of these thirties with the index cards and sticky notes, so maybe I’m missing the point of the exercise. Still, I’m going to call it a win. The synaptic connections are reforming, the fingers are moving, and that’s what I needed right now.
This is a game-changer for me. I think it’s the 30 minutes, versus # of words and/or pages. I really don’t WANT to keep writing for more than 30 minutes, and I don’t. Nevertheless, the pages mount, the story builds, and I’m getting this done. Amazing. I use that word advisedly.
It’s like a mini version of NaNoWriMo. I have never done that, and never will because it requires too much, at least for me. While I write every single day, I tend to hiccup along as it is, sometimes making the goal I set for myself, some days not. That exercise feels too much like punching a time clock, but I applaud anyone who has done it, and done it successfully.
I think what makes this work for most of us out here is that this is what is called a S.M.A.R.T. goal. Specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and time-bound. It is all of those things, and you could even add accountable for the “A” instead. I learned about S.M.A.R.T. goals decades ago in my corporate life, but now I can see how this fits so well with Betsy’s Dirty 30.
I think you should trademark that. 😁
Bingo. And, yes, a new writing book called “Dirty Thirty?”
Betsy’s probably holding her head right about now. 😂
Still plugging along with small edits and plumping of WIP, but I know I actually need to do a deep dive into my MC and a timeline etc….
Fell off the wagon for a couple of days, mostly due to work, but that’s no excuse. All I can say is the postal service is stressed to the max right now — severe worker shortage and a high volume of mail, so mail your Christmas gifts soon and order early. With any luck, the current Postmaster General will be gone soon, but it certainly won’t undo the damage he’s done by the end of the holiday season.
Writing wise, today was better than good. I wrote in the morning and that’s my favorite time to write. I didn’t stop at 30 minutes. I was just getting warmed up! Now if I find the time to strum the old guitar, it will be a very good day.
I’m doing well actually. Thanks for asking. It’s probably because I know no one will rap my knuckles with a ruler if I walk away. (And I never went to catholic school.)
Funny how I thought that when I typed “the end” that was it. On to edits. Well foolish me. Dirty-thirty and I’ve ended up adding over another 6000 words and a twist that’s making this effort beyond worthwhile.
Thanks Betsy. May we all find our way to the top of the hill we seek to climb.
I’ve been with you all along. I’m just terrible at responding. Only cheated once… wrote past midnight, then again after supper the next.
After I retired, I did NaNoWriMo a couple times over a decade ago. Came up with original stories, but since then I’ve seen the type published by better writers. So, mine will go into the flowerbeds as mulch.
30/30 is a better way. I have developed other hobbies too, than just writing, but thanks for cracking the whip to get back to it.
C.Don