On Saturday, 30 November 2019, I attended the Suffolk UK Planner Meet up.
What sort of planner girl am I?
I felt like a fraud going because I am the worst planner girl. I aspire to be organised and I love stationery, so the planner girl world really appeals to me but I am so disorganised that I can’t plan. Ironic – I know!
But, I went to the first Planner Meet (April 2019) for Suffolk UKPA. We had afternoon tea and I hoped to get some tips from experienced planner girls to help me get started. The women I met were so lovely that when the invitation for the next meet came up I thought… Why not?
What happened at the meet?
I confessed that I am failing as a planner girl but the ladies didn’t shun me. They welcomed me and we chatted about life, drank tea and enjoyed the nibbles provided.
The hosts, Ellen and Laura had prepared a craft activity for fun. Laura (Instagram: @the_do_it_all_mum_uk) had bought wooden discs, some twine and Christmas napkins from Poundland. This was an incredibly simple activity with impressive results. I love my new Christmas Decoration and can say “I made it!”
Ellen (Instagram: @ellenbeemakes) brought her Etsy store to us. It was great to have a browse through her stock and be able to ask her questions. Ellen has a great YouTube channel to support creatives with using her products or other crafts. She is a crafty mastermind.
Ellen and Laura also put together a goodie bag for attendees. The video below shows what was inside and will help you discover her YouTube channel.
If that wasn’t awesome enough, the event also included a swap table. People brought with them stickers and other stationery that they didn’t need to give away for others to use. I helped myself to a pad of paper for Noah, some stickers and washi tape.
Here are a few pictures of what I came home with.
Some of the women brought their planners and generously shared how they use them. I fell in with a planner by Becca (Instagram @simplyhobonichi). Her planner looked like something out of a magazine. It had a beautiful personal feeling like a scrapbook. This is the sort of planner I aspire to create. She kindly told me about her favourite pens and let me take pictures to send to my husband to form part of my Christmas wishlist.
I’m so happy that I attended. It was a lovely break from my kids (and if you’ve read my NaNo diary you will know why that was needed). Being with these women made me feel rejuvenated. I would definitively be interested in going again.
If you want to find out more about meets, join their Facebook group, Suffolk UKPA.
Here is an infographic of the goals set for this year showing whether I have achieved them yet or not:
Social Media
Consistently Post: Post twice a week to my blog, post three photos/videos a week to IG, share content to Twitter, Tumblr and Facebook. Brainstorm how to use my FB page more.
I am really pleased with how I have done here. I have managed to keep up with my blog schedule. I have also posted daily to IG. In addition, I have been networking a lot on Twitter this past month and my connections have boomed.
YouTube: Start making YouTube videos.
This hasn’t happened. I am no longer scared, I just want to do it but it is actually really hard for me to get the right conditions to create a video. I often have kids around or it is late and I am tired.
Online Events: Take part in Twitter and Instagram events
Woah! I only just finished editing Jewel of the Sea in time for the June #PitMad Twitter Event. This deadline gave me the kick I needed to cross the finish line.
This month I am doing the #authorschallenge2019 on Instagram. Last month I did the one week #StorySnippetsChallenge which was so popular it had now become a Saturday event called #StorySnippetsSaturday.
In April, I took part in the Camp Nano. More about that later.
I am planning to take part in PB Pitch on 20 June 2019.
I smashed this goal. I have not only finished Act 2 and 3 but also Act 4. That’s right, Jewel of the Sea is finished. You can read it on Wattpad for a limited time.
Finishe & edit: Diamond in the Sky has been on hold but work on this is possible to start in July or August but I plan to give myself a little break.
Scarlet House
First Quarter: Start novel #NewYearNewNovel
This was my Camp NaNo project. I used Save the Cat to write an outline for the first few chapters and set myself a goal of 15k. I am please to say I achieved it!
EXTRA: I needed a picture book to enter a competition. I decided to edit a poem I had written into a picture book format and submitted it. I also pitched it during #PitMad.
Article Writing
All year: Submit to Little Mum Mag & to Ginger Parrot
I still don’t have time for this at the moment.
Writing Course
Second Quarter: Take advantage of free opportunities to learn
An advert came up on Facebook to join a group to work on pitches ready for #PitMad. It was a week long course, each day we were set a challenge to help us develop our pitch.
The course was brilliant and I really like my pitches. Here are my favourite two for each book.
Love struck, misfit, redhead discovers she's a mermaid. Being in the middle of a love triangle awakens Mariah’s dormant weather powers and gives a dangerous new meaning to the status ”It’s complicated!”
Love struck, misfit, redhead discovers she’s a mermaid.
Being in the middle of a love triangle awakens Mariah’s dormant weather powers and gives a dangerous new meaning to the status ”It’s complicated!”
#PitMad#PB VELVETEEN RABBIT for Christmas decorations. A tiger made of tinsel comes to life and has all sorts of fun. A story told in rhyme to inspire the imagination of children.
A tiger made of tinsel comes to life and has all sorts of fun. A story told in rhyme to inspire the imagination of children.
Personal
Second Quarter: Flexible work request
I had to put in a request to change my hours and attend a meeting with HR to persuade them to agree to the change. The meeting was a success. When I return in the autumn I will have the hours I want. I’m very happy with the outcome.
All year: Crafts
I am ashamed to admit I have not found time for crochet. I hope to finish Aria’s blanket by her birthday. I still haven’t done even one scrapbook page. think I need to set a night aside for crafts.
On a positive note I tried something new and created my first pocket letter for a friend. I wish to do another and write a blog post about it.
All year: Journal/Planner
I bought a Carpe Diem planner and find it very therapeutic to see my monthly and weekly plan. The stickers are aesthetically pleasing. I do find the layouts restrict me from doing what I want. I’ve searched for someone selling dotted paper but nobody does for this planner.
Read a book every two months
I’ve finished Red Queen and posted my review. I have completed Save The Cat (review to come) which is a theory book.
I’m currently struggling go get into a book at the moment as I’m so focused on finishing up my novel and have limited time but I am making slow progress.
Development
Working together course (be able to effectively support my son’s school)
I had my first volunteer session and it went really well. I still get nervous when I go in to help but each time I go it gets easier. The children are wonderful and so enthusiastic about technology.
PitMad Challenge (Facebook Group)
This was a private group that you had to request to join. It involved a 7 day challenge during the week leading up to PitMad where Kathy Ver Eecke helped authors to develop their pitches with daily lessons. It was incredibly good. I cannot fault the woman and I am so thankful for everything I learnt on this course.
What’s next
I’m going to evaluate how I am doing and set some new goals for the next quarter.
Let me know how you are progressing towards your goals and whether you check in on yourself too?
I saw a great deal at Craftelier and decided to treat myself to a new planner. I was choosing between Happy Planner and Carpe Diem. The Happy Planners in my price range were dated which meant the first few months would be useless. It is such a waste. So, I went with Carpe Diem (undated) as I would be able to use everything and it came with co-ordinating stickers to start me off.
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I have used it for the first time for planning May.
Month spread
This is my spread for the month of May. I love the stickers that come with the planner as they colours look beautiful and compliment each other. It is so pretty.
What I am not keen on is the week starting on a Sunday? It kept throwing me and I kept writing things on the wrong day. I used stickers to cover up my mistakes but someone on IG recommended I buy Frixion pens as these can be erased.
I do like that these pages are undated. This means the months that I have not used for this year (Jan to April) can be used next year.
This Month
This page is an overview of the month ahead when you can add important reminders like birthdays or important dates. You can set monthly goals and To-do-lists.
I’m not sure how useful I will find this page. I tend to set myself weekly targets and quarterly targets. I also would rather a daily to-do-list than a monthly one. If something needs to be done I’ll do it as soon as possible, I couldn’t wait a month.
Week schedule
This page has plenty of space to write what I have planned for each day. I have decided to use the Notes section as my weekly to do list. This is my favourite page and I need to get better at decorating it.
Thoughts so far
I love how pretty this planner is. I am enjoying it more than my previous planner. I would like to get some dotted paper so I could do some bullet journal style pages too.
I will definitly look at getting the erasable pens as I get really upset when I make a mistake. I would like to get different colours so I can use it for social media plans and writing plans too.
I need to get more stickers so I dont feel so precious about using the ones I have – at the moment I feel a little like I am rationing them.
I already feel more organised. Even though I had things saved on my mobile calendar, I was still trying to remember it all. Pysically seeing what I have planned and what I have achieved makes me feel like I can relax.
Have you any tips for me?
I am new to planning and know I have a lot to learn. If you can help me out with tips or people to follow for inspiration or good planner supply stores, please let me know. Many thanks.
Here is an infographic of the goals set for this year and whether I’ve achieved them or not:
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Social Media
Blog: Keep up with two posts a week. Start including links to my previous posts within new posts. Rework old posts to give new life & build an advice collection.
Posting twice a week has proven more challenging than I expected but I have discovered the IFTTT app. This app is able to convert Instagram posts into draft blog posts. When I have struggled for time this has been a game changer. I highly recommend it.
I have also revamped old posts and started referring readers with links to previous content they may like.
Instagram: Try to post three photos/videos a week
I have been posting two to three times a day! I have over exceeded this goal. I’m so pleased with myself and connected with lots of cool new writer friends as a result.
New: Discord (new) & Facebook Group (new)
This wasn’t in my plans but a lot of IG writing groups have invited me to their Facebook group and discord channel so we can chat more easily as IG limits chat groups to 30 people. I have also created a Facebook Page of my own which I hope to utilise in the near future.
Online events:
Twitter: Take part in Twitter events like #PitMad or #AskAnna
As I’ve ripped Jewel of the Sea apart I have nothing to query. #WriteMentor did a pitch event to earn a place on their rolling course with a mentor. I didn’t win but I gave it a go as I’ve worked hard on improving my pitch.
“Mariah has a magic-meddling mum, and about to discover she’s a storm summoning mermaid that needs to gain control of her emotion-connected powers ready for the impending battle with the powerful, unstoppable death crows!”
I’ve also taken part in IG events like monthly photo prompts and joined #FellowCreativeMinds and #HustlingWritersCommunity. If Aria wasn’t unwell I would have also got more involved in #STCExperiment – there is still time.
YouTube: Try making a video once each quarter, working towards once a month
I still haven’t braved the camera. But, I took baby steps and made two Instagram story videos which has helped me feel more confident. It is still something I am keen to do and I’ve started following more writers on YouTube. I really enjoy their content and they help inspire me to create my own.
About: “24. Writer. Reader. Full-time final year Creative Writing graduate. Full Time Ride Operator in a children’s play centre. Books are my passion, especially YA fantasy fiction. Email me at [email protected]. I’d love to chat with any of you guys! “
About: “A channel to give help, support and encouragement to creative minds everywhere! I post twice a week. Once on Wednesday, usually a reading your writing, and then I post another video each week at a random time. To join the growing creative minds community, join our Discord and follow lizthewritingwiz on Instagram. Happy Creating! ?”
About: “I’m an author of science fiction and fantasy novels, as well as a writing coach over on Patreon, and obviously, a youtuber! (AKA authortuber :) This channel also used to be dedicated to music, so if you look back far enough you’ll find some fun songs.”
About: “Hello friends! My name is Brittany Wang and I’m an aspiring author currently working on my YA Fantasy Novel. If you’re looking for writerly insights as well as writing community, you’re in the right place and I hope you’ll subscribe so you don’t miss a thing! If you’d like to interact more with me and my writer’s community, join our Plotter Life Writer’s Facebook Group and come hang out with me on Instagram where I’m active daily!”
I feel I should mention Pagan as although she’s not on YouTube she does post videos to Facebook and helped me with advice on how to get started. Click here to read about my review of her Facebook Group.
I have been fortunate enough to get some feedback on my novel that has helped me see what I need to do.
I’ve also been following the principles in Save the Cat Writes a Novel. It has really helped with pacing. If you have not read it, you are missing out. Once I’ve finished the book I will write a review.
It started out well but once I realised the extensive edit needed to finish Jewel of the Sea, I decided I needed to focus completely on one project.
Diamond in the Sky has been put on hold for now.
Scarlet House
First Quarter: Start novel #NewYearNewNovel
This did not even happen even a little bit. I was struggling with time for my other projects so something had to go and this is what got the chop.
My plan is for this to be my Camp NaNo project next month. I shall use Save the Cat Writes a Novel to have an outline ready for April.
Article Writing
All year: Submit to Little Mum Mag & to Ginger Parrot
I have been so tied up with my own projects I have not had time to write for others.
Personal
First Quarter: Get my bodacious body back (diet & exercise programme to achieve a more healthy me)
This has gone so well. Eating paleo has been a life style choice and I hope to write blog post to share more. I feel more healthy and my figure is looking great.
All year: Scrapbooking (my son is now 5y old and I still haven’t started his. I need to do this).
I haven’t had time to do this. At the moment I can’t see when I will have time which is sad as those memories are precocious. I showed my son my baby album and he loved it. Maybe if I print his pictures at the very least I can put them in an album.
All year: Crochet – I learnt to crochet in 2018 and if I don’t want to lose the skill I need to keep practising.
Well… I still haven’t finished the blanket. How embarrassing is that! I hope I finish it before Aria turns one.
All year: Journal – I’ve always wanted to get into it as I love the creative way of expressing yourself and being organised.
I have tried a few times but over think it. I’m going to a meet up at the end of the month with some local planner girls. I am hoping these women will share their wisdom with me and help me get started. I want to use it to help me organise my writing.
Read a book every two months
I’ve read Rebel of the Sands (review coming soon) but I am a little behind target. I’ve started Red Queen but doubt I will finish it by the end of April.
Development
Working together course (be able to effectively support my sons school)
I have now started this course. I feel nervous about volunteering at the school (first volunteer session is on 27 March). It is so silly but I am scared of the little kids (lol). I feel supported by my peers and the staff at the school and I am sure that once I have done it, I will feel better about it.
I feel this course and the experience will boost my career. I would like to work in a school as the hours would be good for my children and there is also the aspect that once I am published, I would love to visit schools in Suffolk and inspire the next generation of writers.
New: #WriteMentor
This wasn’t in my plans but when the opportunity to try it out for free came up, I went for it. For February, I was fortunate enough to be part of the exclusive private Slack group for writer #WriteMentor. I need to write a blog post for you to truly appreciate how amazing this opportunity is and why when I return to work I plan to subscribe as a paid member.
What’s next
I’m going to evaluate how I am doing and set some new goals for the next quarter.
Let me know how you are progressing towards your goals and whether you check in on yourself too?
