What Is Your Focus During the Month of May?
Writing, personal, fitness, family, and everything in between
“Focus on your goals, not your fear. Focus like a laser beam on your goals.” ― Roy T. Bennett, The Light in the Heart
I think of each month as a reset, giving me a chance to refocus, making sure I’m heading in the right direction towards my larger goals.
Do you regroup at the start of each month?
Sometimes I do, sometimes I don’t, sometimes depending on the time of the year. As most people are slowing down for summer (is it slower in the summer?! Well I live in Minnesota so it picks up for us because we cram so much in the few months of warmth we get), I will be gearing up for the final three terms in graduate school, concentrating on my thesis.
When it feels overwhelming, my inner planner takes over to feel in control.
My May Focus
My novel: I need to spend the month focused on finishing the first draft. My goal is 15000 words.
Fitness: Walking 2–3 times a week outside, for at least 20 minutes per day. I need to be outside more. This has been an extremely gloomy, chilly spring in Minnesota so far with limited sunshine which has been affecting my mood.
Reading: I’ve been in a reading slump, so getting back to my love of reading, hopefully outside as much as possible. One to two books a week. This means less scrolling endlessly at night before bed, which I’ve fallen into doing lately.
Other creative writing (outside Medium): Write 2–3 flash fiction pieces this month. Flash is my other passion when not writing my novel. I love the challenge of writing a story with limited space. These stories I’ll submit to various submission calls.
What is Your Focus?
Feel free to submit your May focus articles to Flint & Steel; this is a great way to gain accountability and make it more official when you spend some time thinking, and writing, about your goals.
Invitation to all the Flint & Steel Writers
Sahil Patel, Shirley Jones Luke, Samantha Jensen, MA, MAEd, Trista Signe Ainsworth, MIGHTY MISCELLANY, L Burton, Heathere CW, Kaori Mitsui, Penelope Mayfield, Pierce McIntyre, Pene Hodge, Yean Foong (M.Ed.), Elin Melaas, Sarah Minnis, Mindy Morgan Avitia, JM Heatherly, Nikki, Andria Kennedy, pockett dessert, Dennett, Diana Lotti, Ronald C. Flores-Gunkle, Mulan, Amanda Laughtland, Vidya Sury, Collecting Smiles, Penny Grubb, Sorina Raluca Babau, Prashansa Chandekar, Will Hull, Ravyne Hawke, Jane Grows Garden Rooms (Jane Frost), Mimi Bordeaux, Adrienne Beaumont, Karen Schwartz, Divina Grey, Sangeetha Shankar, Ellen Andaya, Barb Dalton, Lucy Dan 蛋小姐 (she/her/她), Beverly Annette Little, Lucy Dan 蛋小姐 (she/her/她), Beverly Annette Little, Aabye-Gayle F., AliciaMarie Belchak | Master Life, Build Dreams, Danielle Hestand, Rick Allen, Jennifer Pierce, Tamil, Amy Rosie, Jennifer McDougall, Susan Poole, Adrienne Parkhurst, Chelsea Marie — Charlie Cole — Katie Michaelson — Sandra B — Buse ermen — E. Katherine Kottaras — Bingz Huang — Winston — Stephanie Stephenson — Marilyn Flower — Kris Bedenian — Kathy K — Nick Stockton — VerityAlways — Makena Darya — Umme Salma — Călina Mureșan — Anne Bonfert — Jennifer Dunne, K-kun Writes!, M Cher, CARMEN F MICSA, Annette Liron, Sam Finlayson, Ian Hanson, LM, Elizabeth Kasujja, Sandi Parsons, Veronica Haunani Fitzhugh, BichoDoMato, Jules Starley, Jordan Richardson, Angie Mangino, Obinna Uruakpa, Shanice Lawton, Barbara Radisavljevic, Gaurav Jain, Terry Barr, Christine Graves, Randy Runtsch, Susan Alison
About the Writer
Ellie is a freelance writer and editor from Minnesota. She is writing her first novel, a psychological suspense novel, while finishing her MFA at SNHU.
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✍ Written by Ellie Jacobson, @2022 all rights reserved.