This year’s goals

I am bad about keeping up w/ my blog(s) but that doesn’t mean I haven’t been productive. Since January 1st I have written 12000 words (and haven’t even gotten to my goal words for today). I am *thisclose* to finishing up a book I need to send to my editor for consideration (fingers crossed). I am 2/3 rds through the sequel to the book that I am pitching to agents (again fingers crossed).

So again at the January YR meeting we set our 2010 goals. Mine are as follows:

—  Write every week … honest and true I write every day–haven’t missed one since September–knockwood–but there’s less pressure for weekly than daily, if I miss I don’t have to beat myself up.

— Get an agent … self-explanatory

— Sell to NY … again, need I explain?!?!

— Avoid umbrellas … this is an inside joke. One gal, when I “don’t get” her story, has waved an umbrella–among other things–at me 😆

— Get an office space … I don’t *need* one. I just really, really want one. I mean, do I really need to pay for space when I am home alone during the day… but I WANT it! A fellow writer gal has one and I am pea-green w/ envy

I figure those are decent goals. They are attainable, though the second and third are as much dependent on someone else as my effort. A not so attainable is the cabana boy. Still on my list, yet well…. I have to have something crazy put there or what’s the fun!

So here’s to 2010 and productive writing. Write on People!

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Goals due soon

At the beginning of the year, the ‘Buds set goals for 2009 and we go over them at the Christmas party. (to see how we all did) I must say, I have been busting my butt this year. Just as a refresher:

~ Finish two books. (I have well over 20 open WIPs to choose from so it’s not like I have a lack of ideas to choose from)

~ Submit two finished books (they kinda go hand-in-hand w/ #1 goal, y’know)

~ Start and finish a new book from start to finish (but not until I have finished the afore-mentioned two books)

~ Submit brand spanking new book (you see the pattern here right, this is supposed to be how it works–rather than staring the WIP and making 42 save copies of it and stopping around page 90 and thinking it’s crappy and watching a week of Lifetime and finishing two quarts of Chunky Monkey to appease the pain and doubt . . . . wheshew . . . . I guess I needed to get that off my chest!)

~ Look for an agent (I won’t be so bold as to put find an agent–a lot depends on that other person too)

~ Write every week (I know me, every day ain’t gonna happen–but if I do better, like two or three  days a week, I will have gotten so much more done!)

To date I have completed all but the agent goal and I am a quarter of the way through that. WOOHOO.

Now, however, I am not sure what to set for the 2010 goals…. hmmm…. wait and see I guess.

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Goal update: 3/4 way done

Out of the 6 goals:

~ Finish two books. (I have well over 20 open WIPs to choose from so it’s not like I have a lack of ideas to choose from) Did this! Yes, got two open WIPs done!

~ Submit two finished books (they kinda go hand-in-hand y’know) Did this, but um, well… one several times over now… DOH!

~ Start and finish a new book from start to finish (but not until I have finished the afore mentioned two books) check and check.

~ Submit brand spanking new book (you see the pattern here right, this is supposed to be how it works–rather than staring the WIP and making 42 save copies of it and stopping around page 90 and thinking it’s crappy and watching a week of Lifetime and finishing two quarts of Chunky Monkey to appease the pain and doubt . . . . wheshew . . . . I guess I needed to get that off my chest!)  has been submitted ~ It’s outta my hands now

~ Look for an agent (I won’t be so bold as to put find an agent–a lot depends on that other person too)  look below

~ Write every week (I know me, every day ain’t gonna happen–but if I do better, like two three days a week, I will have gotten so much more done!) I made myself do this even on days when CSI or Golden Girls beckoned

I have completed all but one… I haven’t been actively seeking an agent–okay I haven’t done it AT ALL. Yeah, I know I shoulda but well… I just haven’t. And hey, I still have a few months left. Let’s bump that up to the top of my to-do list now and well see what shakes loose in December!

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Goal update ~ half way

It’s June, half-way through the year and I thought a good time for goals update (especially in light of various challenges going on). My 2009 goals that I set are:

~ Finish two books.(I have well over 20 open WIPs to choose from so it’s not like I have a lack of ideas to choose from)

~ Submit two finished books (they kinda go hand-in-hand y’know)

~ Start and finish a new book from start to finish (but not until I have finished the afore mentioned two books)

~ Submit brand spanking new book (you see the pattern here right, this is supposed to be how it works–rather than staring the WIP and making 42 save copies of it and stopping around page 90 and thinking it’s crappy and watching a week of Lifetime and finishing two quarts of Chunky Monkey to appease the pain and doubt . . . . wheshew . . . . I guess I needed to get that off my chest!)

~ Look for an agent (I won’t be so bold as to put find an agent–a lot depends on that other person too)

~ Write every week (I know me, every day ain’t gonna happen–but if I do better, like two three days a week, I will have gotten so much more done!)

So how have I done?

Actually, not too bad. I have finished and submitted a book (technically two–because one I submitted my editor asked for the full–which I had told her WAS done so I had to then scramble like crazy and finish–and she bought it, it’s my August release, but shhh don’t tell my editor that part).

I am 2/3 through the start from scratch book–which is book 2 in the Paintbrush series–chugging away on that! I am working on it for Ames’ challenge, so it WILL be done and it will be submitted! (before the end of the year)

I have written every week and truth be told almost every single day this year.

So, the agent part, not so much, but I still have six months to go.

One thing that I need to add and prolly the most important one is that I am ALLOWED to write. Even writing every week, and doing cover art sheets and galley edits and getting royalty checks, it still hasn’t sunk in that I can do this. Take yourself serious and every one else will too! That is number one on the goal list from now on!

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Goal update: Quarter of the way

I had lofty goals at the beginning of the new year. It’s now April and one might wonder (in the absence of any blogging lately) if I have been able to maintain said goals.

Actually to a degree, yes. I HAVE written every week. Maybe only a few lines for about two or three weeks, but I did open my WIP and write in it every single week. Truth be told, for the most part I have written every single day (that trip to Disney World put a few things out of whack–that and spraining both ankles there–that will knock the wind outta your sails!)

I did finish something this year. I have been working on book 2 for the Paintbrush Series… it’s coming along nicely I think!

I have an open WIP I have been toying with to send out. 

So that leaves: look for agent and sell to NY. It’s only April so I am go for goals so far!

I do have some NEWS, too, but I am waiting 1) to tell my girls in person and 2) on a key piece of paperwork to bet done. I will share soon!

 

 

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How goes the goals?

At the January Yellow Rose meeting on the 10th we wrote down our goals for 2009.  We made two copies: One for us to look over and make sure we’re doing what we’re supposed to, and one for the secretary to keep so at the end of the year we can see who did what (in case we hmm-hmm “lose” ours and claim short term memory loss). We have proof as to what we say we’re gonna do.

Pretty much I copied my goals that I posted to the blog. I will always hold out hope for the cabana boy (the dh understands–truly), but I did need to have actual obtainable goals. And most of my goals are self-motivation lacking only.  How much I write and submit is solely on my own keep-my-butt-in-the-chair (not online shopping or playing Solitaire) writing.

So far–knock wood, as I said uber superstitious here–I am on track. I have written two chapters on my start and finish a new WIP from start to finish. I have printed out the pages to really edit hard on the “finish an open WIP” and I have two that are just on the cusp of being done that I could easily pop into this category. The agent part scares me (hush Ames… it’s only January, I have time), dunno how this will play out.

But. . . I figure as long as I am working on it, that’s a step better than the last year or two when I “thought” about working 🙂

Again, knock wood, I have written every single day. Yes sir. I even took my AlphaSmart to Mini-me’s soccer game last night and got four pages done.  They were playing a team that beat them 12 to 2 last time so. . . I did miss my kid w/ his foot on the ball and saying bring it on to the opponent across–then getting it stolen by a kiddo swooping in from behind. . . HA! (he’s 7 and has 3 older brothers what do you expect *shrugs*)

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One Week In…

Knock wood (’cause I am uber-superstitious): It is one week into 2009 and so far I have managed to stay on track with the goals.  I have written and edited every day!

To add a little extra challenge, I received my Print Galley for Trading Faces and have two weeks to go over that and turn it back in–but I am NOT complaining. I *heart* editing when I am getting something out of it, oh like a book in print! (But I did find one thing that made me cringe that I had to change. With a quick glance over the word it might not make people immediately say take notice–but it was there nonetheless.) Luckily, though, that is why we get the print galley.

Assuming I get it all turned in on time, the release date for the print version of Trading Faces is June 30, 2009 — WOOHOO! 

OH and to add another challenge–thanks to Sandy J and Ames (and the stupid DH for posting high school pics) I have succumbed to the Face Book temptation–dern them!

Oh well. Life is never dull is it?!?!?!?

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Start the new year out write (pun, goal, and kick in the arse intended)

I made this list up on the Chica blog. Maybe if I post it for the world to see the accountability will be a little higher (ask me in 6 months and we’ll see!)

I had a few more written down, but um, I seem to have misplaced my notebook . . . 

~ Finish two books. (I have well over 20 open WIPs to choose from so it’s not like I have a lack of ideas to choose from)

~ Submit two finished books (they kinda go hand-in-hand w/ #1 goal, y’know)

~ Start and finish a new book from start to finish (but not until I have finished the afore mentioned two books)

~ Submit brand spanking new book (you see the pattern here right, this is supposed to be how it works–rather than staring the WIP and making 42 save copies of it and stopping around page 90 and thinking it’s crappy and watching a week of Lifetime and finishing two quarts of Chunky Monkey to appease the pain and doubt . . . . wheshew . . . . I guess I needed to get that off my chest!)

~ Look for an agent (I won’t be so bold as to put find an agent–a lot depends on that other person too)

~ Write every week (I know me, every day ain’t gonna happen–but if I do better, like two three days a week, I will have gotten so much more done!)

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