Divine December

My first Writing Careers Examiner article was published this morning. I'm very excited about this venture and have tons of ideas for future columns. I'm making lists. But that's what I do. It's my coping mechanism, it's my organization method. Lists. I love lists!

Here's a list of my December goals:

• SARK Month 12 (yes, I made it through the whole book!)
• Blog twice
• Final operating manual article for my local RWA chapter
• 3 Examiner articles per week (including accompanying photos)
• Critique twice
• Local RWA chapter meeting, holiday party, Rose Ceremony
• BIAW
• await the Golden Network GOLDEN PEN winners announcement
• My writing buddies annual holiday party
• Whatever work on my WIP that I can manage in between all of the above, plus a multiple-holiday month.

It's going to be crazed, but I do love a challenge.

Remembering Novembering

 I made it through the month. Whew! There were moments I had my doubts.

• SARK  done
• Local RWA Chapter meeting it was FANTASTIC!
• Crit 2ce Cancelled 1ce due to X-Chromo & H1N1
• Blog 2ce I think so.
• BIAW goal met
• Operating Manual Article yes
• Work on column for company newsletter done
• develop & pitch idea for additional column for company newsletter done, but the article I wrote was rejected :-(
• Extreme progress on WIP  HAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHA...NO

 But in other news, I applied for a freelance writing position with an online service . . . and they've accepted me. The reason this blog is so late is because I've been working on setting up everything. Once my ducks are in place, I'll share the url.

Nice November

November promises to be a productive month, in spite of holidays and family events.

• SARK
• Local RWA Chapter meeting
• Crit 2ce
• Blog 2ce
• BIAW
• Operating Manual Article
• Work on column for company newsletter
• develop & pitch idea for additional column for company newsletter
• Extreme progress on WIP
•  

October Optimism

It worked! Staying optimistic in spite of some pretty nasty comments by contest judges worked! My month was fantastic.

 

• SARK Month 10 Yes
• Current round of contest thank-you notes All contest thank-yous composed and sent (altho' one snail-mail one was returned as unforwardable)
• Chapter operating manual article Yes
• Work on Desk Diva article (Topic of Silence) No, but I came up with an idea for a second column for the company newsleter.
• 2009 Conference CDs to desktop (and mp3) No
• Blog 2ce Yes
• Critique 2ce Yes
• BIAW Goal met!
• Chapter meeting Absolutely perfect. If you ever have a chance to hear Diana Holquist and Ellen Hartman do their workshop on cliches, take advantage of the opportunity.
• Morning Pages (as part of The Writing Diet) Every morning
• TGN Golden Pen finalists announced I finalled!
• CRW HOR winners announced 2nd place! After some other contest results, I was starting to wonder if I should give up writing.
• 20 pages of manuscript edited. Yes
• Edit TGN GP entry and resubmit to contest coordinators so it can be sent to the editor who is the final judge. Yes.

Optimistically October

October is going to be awesome. I just know it. Lots of writing-related things happening, plus I love the month. It's probably my favorite of the twelve. Autumn is my favorte season, and October showcases it the best.

My goals keep fluctuating as life rearranges my priorities, but I do believe I have them set now.

• SARK Month 10
• Current round of contest thank-you notes
• Chapter operating manual article
• Work on Desk Diva article (Topic of Silence)
• 2009 Conference CDs to desktop (and mp3)
• Blog 2ce
• Critique 2ce
• BIAW
• Chapter meeting
• Morning Pages (as part of The Writing Diet)
• TGN Golden Pen finalists announced I finalled!
• CRW HOR winners announced
• 20 pages of manuscript edited.
• Edit TGN GP entry and resubmit to contest coordinators so it can be sent to the editor who is the final judge.

Stupendous September!

September was a great month.

Contest results were so much more positive than they were in August.

Really restored my faith in myself & my writing.

• SARK Month 9 DONE
• BIAW GOAL MET
• RWA Chapter Meeting Fantastic as always
•  Operating Manual Article for local chapter Done
•  Start researching a new DESK DIVA article Topic of SILENCE. Lots of great resources
•  write contest thank you notes Lots of good intentions. Anger & disgust and earlier results still blocking me
•  await results of two more contests I finalled in one, and had fantastic comments from the judges in the other. One judge was very MST3K, which had me laughing. Fantastic feedback with viable suggestions for improvement.
•  Blog at least twice yes
•  Critique twice yes
•  Watch TRUE LIES (recommended by a crit partner) yes
•  Revise 1 chapter on current WIP yes. It's UGLY & ROUGH but restructured, really.
•  RWA elections I voted. Have you?
•  await contest scoresheets worth the wait.
• work on a Branding project with my crit PHriends Ordered a used copy of the book, which is now in my possession. Now I think we merely need to squeeze out additional time for this.
• And, altho' this isn't strictly a WRITING goal, I will be starting the Writing Diet late in the month.

 

 

 

Spectacular September!

Okay. Back in the saddle again. Not going to let a few people whose opinion I don't respect get me down.


The only thing in life over which I have complete control is my attitude.


Yay me.

September Goals:

• SARK Month 9
• BIAW
• RWA Chapter Meeting
• Operating Manual Article for local chapter
• Start researching a new DESK DIVA article
• write contest thank you notes
• await results of two more contests
• Blog at least twice
• Critique twice
• Watch TRUE LIES (recommended by a crit partner)
• Revise 1 chapter on current WIP
• RWA elections
• await contest scoresheets
• work on a Branding project with my crit PHriends
• And, altho' this isn't strictly a WRITING goal, I will be starting the Writing Diet late in the month.

Awful August

My month was one of extremes. Extremely.

My personal life had ups and downs -- one of the down-est being Y-Chromo heading back to college. He called a little while ago. He's there, safe & sound. There was down with X-Chromo, too. The joys of parentood.

The writing? Sometimes I wonder why I continue to bother.

THE WRITING GOALS:

• SARK Month 8 Yes
• BIAW Goal Met
• Critique twice Only once, and that is if you count reading aloud while on Retreat
• 3 (of the 6 I entered) contests announcing finalists This was hideous. At least, 2 of 3 contests from which I've received my scoresheets & judges "comments". I didn't final in any of these, which led me observe to my crit partners that I'm starting to think I'm not as good of a writer as I was several years ago.
• Blog 2ce at least
• A night at the library to see one of my PHriends give a talk on the day in the life of a writer This was one of the good things
• A long weekend writing retreat in a cabin in the wood This was the best thing. Can't wait to go back.
• Order 2009 RWA Whole Conference CD ROM There's no "Early Bird" price this year, so I've put this on hold. I did purchase the Leslie Wainger workshop to which I'd sent a synopsis for editor evaluation. I felt savaged after listening to it.

When You Need It The Most . . .

I have the best friends. Really. Example: The Purple Cactus . Ever since she returned from the RWA National Conference, she's been suggesting that we get together because she had goodies for me from the conference. I'm a sucker for goodies, and I missed my friends desperately. I had a vacation day from the Day Job today, so we made plans to meet for lunch.

Then I had my usual ongoing vehicular issues. TPC drove to my house so she could give me the goodies. Instead of the Mexican place we'd decided on for lunch, we went to one of the taverns in my neighborhood. She'd never been to this establishment before. Once, in a different incarnation, she was to meet me, other PHriends, and former RWA President Joanne Fergusson for a late dinner, but she never could find the place. Today, she had a navigatrix.

She gave me books. I love books, and the RWA National Conference is a fantastic place to score new -- and free -- books. But RWA also holds a literacy signing each year, which raises money for Pro-Literacy Worldwide. TPC went to the signing early and seated herself at the spot of one of my idols. I have an autographed copy of Linda Howard's DEATH ANGEL.

To Molly - Best wishes on your writing career and never, ever give up!

Linda and TPC -- Thanks. I really needed to read that today.

I have the best friends.

Really.

Awesome August

August is going to be a fantastic month. I have a lot on my plate writing-wise and family-wise, but that's okay. It's not snowing in my part of the world (altho' the weather is not as summeresque as it should be), my family is intact for another month (before Y-Chromo is off to college), and there are many scenic viewpoints on my journey.
THE WRITING GOALS:

• SARK Month 8
• BIAW
• Critique twice
• 3 (of the 6 I entered) contests announcing finalists
• Blog 2ce
• A night at the library to see one of my PHriends give a talk on the day in the life of a writer
• A long weekend writing retreat in a cabin in the wood
• Order 2009 RWA Whole Conference CD ROM

Lots of nights out doing writerly things. Lots of opportunities to celebrate with my writer pals. And this is just the WRITING-RELATED stuff. The rest of my life in August is going to be awesome, too.

July Goals Recap

It was a lonely month for a while, but I did accomplish a lot of writing, and I suppose that's the most important thing. Oh, and I listened to a LOT of RWA workshops from past conferences.

Plus I downloaded all of Harlequin's FREE e-books to read, so have gotten through several of those. I confess, I'm not a huge fan of e-books because I find I hate sitting a a computer to read a book. Perhaps if I had an e-reader of sorts, I would enjoy it more, but I can't read in bed or sit at the kitchen table and read while I eat my ice cream.

• SARK month 7 yes
• Blog 2ce at least
• write my monthly Operating Manual articles for the rest of the year. done
• Participate in my local RWA chapter's BIAW goal met/exceded
• Write 1 Desk Diva article Angel Speak--Music in the Workplace
• edit/rewrite 50 pages of WIP oh yes.
• attend critique 2ce.yes
  

Creative Dreaming

One of my goals this year is to use SARK's MAKE YOUR CREATIVE DREAMS REAL book to . . . make my creative dreams real.

The book is divided into 12 months. Very handy. I then divvied each month into weeks. In month 7, week 4, there is a list of questions about the reader's creative dream.
Two of the questions prompted this blog entry.

DESCRIBE IN DETAIL ONE OF YOUR CREATIVE DREAMS.

DESCRIBE YOURSELF ULTIMATELY LIVING ONE OR MORE OF YOUR CREATIVE DREAMS.

(So technically these aren't questions, but they still require responses.)

Here is my creative dream:

I have a multi-book contract with a major publisher. I have quit my dayjob, but I still get up every morning at 5:30am. The first thing I do is sit with a cup of coffee (outside on my patio, weather permitting) and write my Morning Pages -- yes I've become an adherent of Julia Cameron's THE ARTIST'S WAY. Once my Morning Pages are complete, I do an hour of yoga before settling in to my writing routine.
Then it's time to hit the office.
I have an amazing office. Here's a picture of it before it was completely finished.

It's painted pale apricot and glows when the sun streams in through the bare windows. I keep the space as uncluttered as I can. I have a nice low desk, a high chair, and an amazing laptop computer. There are bookcases for my reference books, a huge white board because I've read every author needs one (I've never used it) a decent sound system, and a comfy rocking chair.

Around noon (depending on how the writing is going), I take a break and eat a healthy lunch. I go back to work and write until 5-ish, again depending on the story is flowing. Around five, I stop, pour a glass of wine and begin cooking a healthy dinner. TV & I eat together when he comes home from his office.

After dinner, I either take a walk together or go on my weekly Artist's Date (The Artist's Way). TV often joins me on my walks. When I return home, it's time for recreational reading. I might pour another glass of wine or make a cup of decaffeinated tea, curl up on the sofa and lose myself in a great book. Or TV and I go out together, to a concert or a movie or something at one of the many art galleries that TV helped flourish in our city.

Without the distractions of small children (X and Y Chromos are on their own now), I am able to write a book in three months. My high-powered agent negotiated a three-books-a-year contract for me. This works out well for family life, married life, and professional life.

I love my job.

Strawberry Maragarita Toes

This week, all of my friends are at the RWA National Conference in Washington, DC. I am so very, very home alone. There's no free wifi at the hotel, so other than a quick text message or two, I'm isolated from my writing community.

My friends Kris and Braveheart Barbie always have a professional pedicure when they get to national. Yesterday, I decided that since one of my goals this year is to pamper my feet, that I, too, would have my feed professionally done in honor of the national conference. So I called my stylist (with whom I had an appointment this morning) and booked me a pedicure. My first ever professonal pedicure. There was no silver polish in the selection (note to self: next time, bring own polish), so I opted for pink. I love pink. This shade is called STRAWBERRY MARGARITA. Isn't it lovely?

Fly-By July

A month of vacation (except the Chromos are working), a month of RWA National Conference in Washington, DC (I'm not going), a month of warmth, a month of possibilities. Some months have more potential for being months of possibilities than others. For me, May of this year was a month of no possibilities. July? Any thing goes.

My writing goals for the month are few:

• SARK month 7
• Blog 2ce (this is once)
• write my monthly Operating Manual articles for the rest of the year.
• Participate in my local RWA chapter's BIAW
• Write 1 Desk Diva article
• edit/rewrite 50 pages of WIP
• attend critique 2ce.

That's it. I plan to increase my water consumption and pamper my feet even more than I have.

Have a wonderful month!

June Recap

Another month survived! It seemed as if I was spinning my wheels for most of the month, but now I'm in a lull. Thank goodness. Don't know if I could have survived the pace much longer.

Lots of controversy everywhere. I have been making an effort not to let things get to me. The only thing in life over which anyone has 100% control is their own attitude. I found that delightful bit of wisdom while researching an upcoming DESK DIVA article.

• Blog 2ce (this is twice)
• RWA chapter meeting Indeed. And it was delightful
• Speaker at the RWA Chapter Meeting (Dominating Submissions) Yes
• Enter 1 contest (TGN Golden Pen) Yes
• Write an article for the day-job newsletter about X-Chromo winning scholarship money through the company Yes
• Meet with critique group twice Yes
• RWA chapter's monthly Book In A Week challenge yes
• Booksigning at local Barnes & Noble for crit partner yes
• SARK Month 6 yes
• RWA chapter operating manual article yes
• Read RITA-nominated books as they become available from the library 1 left to read
• Edit/rewrite minimum of 50 pages of WIP yes

Bonus: I submitted a 1-page synopsis for the Leslie Wainger Inside an Editor's Mind workshop at the RWA national conference in Washington, DC in mid-July, and it will be included. Leslie cold reads the synopsis, gives her opinion, highlights strengths and weaknesses, and reveals whether or not she would ask for a manuscript based on the synopsis. Fortunately for me, the workshop will be recorded, so I will be able to hear what she has to say.

Plus, I came up with several more topics for the DESK DIVA and researched several of them.

Over all, I'd have to say it was a successful month for me.

Keep Shining!

June.
So soon?
Seems like this year is flying by. It's nearly half over.
I still can't believe I survived May, but I did. Wow.

Okay, here are my June goals:

• Blog 2ce (this is once)
• RWA chapter meeting
• Speaker at the RWA Chapter Meeting (Dominating Submissions)
• Enter 1 contest (TGN Golden Pen)
• Write an article for the day-job newsletter about X-Chromo winning scholarship money through the company
• Meet with critique group twice
• RWA chapter's monthly Book In A Week challenge
• Booksigning at local Barnes & Noble for crit partner
• SARK Month 6
• RWA chapter operating manual article
• Read RITA-nominated books as they become available from the library
• Edit/rewrite minimum of 50 pages of WIP

May: It Happened

Oh my gosh! It's been a ride, let me tell you.
And I still really have one more day, but I have survived day job, family (including a quick trip downstate to fetch Y-Chromo's dorm things and the formal conclusions of X-Chromo's religious education), and life.

• Enter a writing contest I've entered several. It's a business strategy.
• Operating Manual Article for RWA chapter Yes. Short & sweet, but done
• RWA chapter meeting Yes, and as always, a real pleasure
• RWA chapter Book-In-A-Week Challenge Goal met!
• Blog Twice (this is twice)
• Critique 2ce with my amazing critique group Still amazing. Oh so productive
• Read 1 Rita-nominated book in my chosen genre I read a lot more than 1. I have several still on hold from the public library.
• SARK Creative Dream project, Month 5 and the corresponding resource reading (ouch) Yup. Well, not all the reading. I did make it through HAROLD AND THE PURPLE CRAYON. You gotta love a resource reading list that includes this classic.
• X-Chromo's religious ed project Yes. It wasn't nearly the amount of work I was prepared to do.
• Parent Prayer for X-Chromo's religious ed service Yes. And surprisingly, many parents and other congregants commented on what a great prayer it was. I was inspired, true, by my charming X-Chromo. That must have been it. But one woman, not a parent, chased me down in the parking lot to tell me how much she loved it.
• The June program for my RWA chapter (I'm speaking on DOMINATING SUBMISSIONS) This is SO close to being done. Today is the last day of May. So, MAY-BE?
• Finish WIP Synopsis Yes. A lovely 5-pager, which makes it perfect for most contests.
• rewrite one chapter of WIP Yes!
• do one D. Maas BREAKOUT NOVEL exercise believe it or not, YES.

Other 'bonus' activities include pulling together a list of agents to research with an eye to submitting to them. I'm a firm believer in learning from experience, even good ones.

May: Possibilities

So many possibilities. That's how I always feel in Spring, and spring doesn't really happen in my part of the world until May. It's going to be an insanely busy month for me. All I can do is the best I can.

Taking it one bite at a time.

• Enter a writing contest
• Operating Manual Article for RWA chapter
• RWA chapter meeting
• RWA chapter Book-In-A-Week Challenge
• Blog Twice (this is once)
• Critique 2ce with my amazing critique group
• Read 1 Rita-nominated book in my chosen genre
• SARK Creative Dream project, Month 5 and the corresponding resource reading (ouch)
• X-Chromo's religious ed project
• Parent Prayer for X-Chromo's religious ed service
• The June program for my RWA chapter (I'm speaking on DOMINATING SUBMISSIONS)
• Finish WIP Synopsis
• rewrite one chapter of WIP
• do one D. Maas BREAKOUT NOVEL exercise

What's really scary is that I have life, too. A spouse, two teenagers, a day job, a house . . .

April Recap

Things got crueler.

Things got busy. Incredibly busy. When I think about the coming weeks, I almost panic, but then I remember the wisdom of the Julie Garwood character who informed a priest that she could eat a giant bear all by herself: one bite at a time.

• My RWA chapter meeting yes


• Critique on 4/16 & 4/30 yes


• Blog twice (this is yes)


• Operating Manual article for local RWA chapter yes


• Distribute updated Operating Manual to chapter members yes


• Month 4 of my SARK project Yes


• Read 1 Romantic Suspense Rita Finalist book Yes


• Work on the June program: DOMINATING SUBMISSIONS not nearly enough


• Finish the first draft of my WIP hahahahaha NO-- but I think I know why I can't finish it. I made a wrong turn in the plot.


• Rewrite the first three chapters of the WIP using the SAVE THE CAT (by Blake Snyder) method yes


• Book-In-A-Week yes


• Let us not forget my FEET pedicure, but not nearly enough moisturizing


• Or water consumption not nearly enough

The past couple of weeks have been interesting. Ten months after sending a query to a publisher, I received an e-mail requesting a completed manuscript, which I submitted. Turn-around window: eight weeks. It was less than two. ::sniff:: Black rose, as we say in my local RWA chapter.

And the final week of April was filled with requests for my time. I've been asked to help with the writing for a project in X-Chromo's religious ed class. And former co-workers asked me to be on "Family Reunion" planning committee. I agreed to both.

And I'm thinking of entering a writing contest. If I can get a synopsis done in the next couple of weeks, I'm going for it.

Cruel April

I was so busy editing and grocery shopping yesterday (another of my goals is to not do my marketing on the weekends) that I forgot to post my April goals.

X-Chromo informed me that it didn't matter, that my blogs are boring now, instead of about my life. I replied that my life is boring. X took exception to that observation. After all, I have her.

So here are my April writing goals, boring boring boring:

• My RWA chapter meeting
• Critique on 4/16 & 4/30
• Blog twice (this is once)
• Operating Manual article for local RWA chapter
• Distribute updated Operating Manual to chapter members
• Month 4 of my SARK project*
• Read 1 Romantic Suspense Rita Finalist book
• Work on the June program: DOMINATING SUBMISSIONS
• Finish the first draft of my WIP
• Rewrite the first three chapters of the WIP using the SAVE THE CAT (by Blake Snyder) method
• Book-In-A-Week
• Let us not forget my FEET
• Or water consumption

*I'm liking the resource reading better now. I even purchased one book so I'll have my own copy. It's still a LOT of reading tho'. Thank goodness for the Public Library system and it's system where I can place my books on hold from the comfort of my own computer. Now, if only they had a drive-up window . . .

MARCH: OUT LIKE A LAMB

March: The Recap

The month looked like this:

• Blog 2ce (this is twice)
• Critique 3/12 & 3/26 Yes
• 3rd month of SARK project (including massive amounts of resource reading!) Yes
• 10 new pages of WIP Yes, which surprises me. I probably shouldn't admit that.
• Edit 1 chapter of WIP Another yes
• Fix my website issues Yes
• RWA Chapter meeting Yes
• Article for RWA-Chapter E-mail loop Yes, it was late, but it was done.
• BIAW challenge and I made my goal! Of course, my goal was pathetic, but I did it in spite of myriad personal issues that week.
• Work on getting the Operating Manual for my RWA-Chapter into hard copy for the members Took it to Office Max to be copied, ordered the portfolios from Staples on line, and assembled the thing while listening to an audio book with X-Chromo (Sarah Vowell's ASSASSINATION VACATION)
• It's going to be a crazy crazed month. Indeed. Yet it appears it was successful. WOW!
• I need to drink LITERS of water still working on finding a method for getting drinkable water without paying a fortune for bottles out of a machine
• and slather ounces of cream on my feet. Oh yeah. Bare-feet weather is steadily approaching. I will be READY!

In Like a Lion

March: The Action Plan

1st of all, a side note: Yesterday, a huge hunk of my heart was torn from me. My hometown lost a much-needed voice. A life-shaping institution became an abandoned shell. R.I.P.

Here's the plan for the month.

• Blog 2ce (this is once)
• Critique 3/12 & 3/26
• 3rd month of SARK project (including massive amounts of resource reading!)
• 10 new pages of WIP
• Edit 1 chapter of WIP
• Fix my website issues
• RWA Chapter meeting
• Article for RWA-Chapter E-mail loop
• BIAW challenge
• Work on getting the Operating Manual for my RWA-Chapter into hard copy for the members

It's going to be a crazy crazed month.

I need to drink LITERS of water and slather ounces of cream on my feet.

Febru-Weary Recap

I feel as if February was a failure. I felt torn -- no, more like a mirror that had been shattered, unable to reflect anything completely.

• Finish judging the Golden Heart Yes
• February BIAW everything but the writing itself, which is the purpose. I did write an essay (see website comment below) and I did finish a Desk Diva article -- and turned one in for the next newsletter, so this wasn't a complete failure.
• 2nd month of SARK (I broke the reading portion into 4 weeks, so that I haven't completed all the reading the first day!) I may have bitten off more than I can chew. The resource reading is . . . overwhelming. And much of it doesn't engage my attention. I'd rather read fiction. I need to read fiction.
• Critique 2/5 yes
• Critique 2/26 yes
• Local RWA Chapter meeting (this month's program is on websites!) And it was amazing and inspiring as always.
• Write article for local RWA chapter e-mail loop on the Operating Manual Yes
• 20 pages OR finish my WIP Please. You're got to be kidding. My month felt like WIP-avoidance month.
• prepare a questionaire for my DOMINATING SUBMISSIONS talk to my local RWA chapter (scheduled for June) no
• Blog 2ce (this is once) and this is twice
• Begin planning my website revamp (see note on RWA chapter meeting) Okay, here is a measure of success. I actually spent a lot of time on this, wrote a new essay for the website, customized a free template and launched the new site.

Oh, and I'm going to continue my foot care regimine yes

and another goal, which I didn't mention in January:

DRINK MORE WATER.Yes, but still not nearly enough.

February: The Action Plan

First of all, a rant:
I am vehemently against using television for "company" (turning on the TV because a person needs sound in the background). I also hate talking on the telephone. Telephones and televisions were good inventions, initially, but both are hideously abused. They are intrusive and annoying.

I found two quotes this morning, in a book recommended by my SARK project, A BIG NEW FREE HAPPY UNUSUAL LIFE by Nina Wise, that offer a reason:
"Creativity arises from the ground of silence. Like clearing the yard of weeds and stones before planting seeds, silence clears the body and the mind so that creative impulses have an open field in which to emerge. The price we pay for being active in the modern world is that our minds are cluttered with to-do lists. These tasks captivate our attention and we lose access to our subconscious, the territory of creative self-expression."

A few pages later, she goes on to say: "By practicing stillness, we cultivate the courage to face the void. By practicing stillness, we touch the ground of being. Out of silence all creativity emerges."

Silence. Yes.

February is going to be a busy month, that's for sure. Here's the action plan:

• Finish judging the Golden Heart


• February BIAW


• 2nd month of SARK (I broke the reading portion into 4 weeks, so that I haven't completed all the reading the first day!)


• Critique 2/5


• Critique 2/26


• Local RWA Chapter meeting (this month's program is on websites!)


• Write article for local RWA chapter e-mail loop on the Operating Manual


• 20 pages OR finish my WIP


• prepare a questionaire for my DOMINATING SUBMISSIONS talk to my local RWA chapter (scheduled for June)


• Blog 2ce (this is once)


• Begin planning my website revamp (see note on RWA chapter meeting)

Oh, and I'm going to continue my foot care regimine and another goal, which I didn't mention in January: DRINK MORE WATER.

January Writing Goal Recap

WRITING GOALS
*finish DESK DIVA on positive thinking Yes, with the delightful title of THE TOAD DIET
*print revised RTMM in time for MLK yes
*Annual MLK writing retreat yes, I can't believe it's over for another year. My PHriend Kris drove us through a blizzard coming off Lake Erie for 80 miles. At night. On I-90, where tandem tractor trailers whizzed by us at imprudent and possibly illegal speeds. But it was worth the travel. Another writing PHriend, Gayle, has access to a lovely A-frame house in the woods. It has all the amenities a group of writing women could want . . . except perhaps a dishwasher. It was perfect for us. We didn't want to leave.
*50 pages of RTMM, including 2 purple roses at MLK retreat 45 currently done, including the 2 purple roses at the MLK retreat. I still have the rest of today to finish those last 5 pesky pages
*judge GH entries one a week.
*begin 'self-improvement' program -- MAKE YOUR CREATIVE DREAMS REAL by SARK yes. I'm enjoying some of the books in the 4th Week "Radiant Resources" section. My local public library is an amazing organization. I research the database, make a list of books, then place holds as I'm ready -- all from the comfort of my own sofa & laptop.
*e-mail annual writing goals to agent DEVASTATION. She's retiring.
*writing expenses for taxes ready for the accountant!
*crit on 1/8 and 1/22 the 8th was cancelled due to SNOW. The 22nd was amazing & productive.
*Participate in January BIAW in progress as I type. I still have those FIVE pesky pages before I can type: GOAL MET!
*cost estimates for local RWA Chapter Operating Manual Yes, and the board approved the budget. Now I have to figure out how to do it.
*P&P article for local RWA Chapter January's is done & posted.
MY FEET
*slather cream on feet at least 1ce a week it's been at least once a day. And it makes a real difference.
*polish toes with "Cherries in the Snow" (in photo, toes are wearing "Royal Purple Chrome" nail makeup) See photo in previous post. Of course, now the polish has all worn off because it's winter and socks and shows do that. At least on my toes.

Over all, I would say I had a successful January on the writing front.

Week 1 Report

Here are my "Cherries in the Snow" toes. I did a really sloppy job. My toes look like Heath Ledger's mouth in The Dark Knight.

Then I found a blank book in my stash of blank books that is perfect for my SARK project. Here are photos of the front and back covers. I love the bright colors.
I use my multi-colored Ultra-fine point Sharpies to write in here. So cheerful! It's all about a positive attitude.

Then I needed something to keep everything together, organized. I had this hand-painted canvas "briefcase", again with the cheerful, bright colors. Perfect!

REVISING THE GOALS

While I don't plan to post this often on a regular basis, this week has been very busy when it comes to goals. Yesterday, I received word that I need to change my 2009 goals, because my agent is retiring.

So here's the new list:

Finish current WIP

Revamp website/blog

Series of articles for dayjob newsletter

Package the short articles to market & sell to other companies for their newsletters

Annual MLK Weekend Writing Retreat

Writing "Self-Improvement" program, probably something SARK

Meet with critique group 2x per month

Local RWA chapter:

• Continue Loops & Links (for the main loop)
• Operations Manual Chair
• Monthly article explaining P&P
• June speaker: The Process of Submitting

Search for new agent

• Define what I want
• Define what I write
• Research & develop a list
• Begin submitting once current WIP is ready

And, of course, all of this revises my action plan for the month, too.

WRITING GOALS

• finish DESK DIVA on positive thinking
• print revised RTMM in time for MLK DONE!
• Annual MLK writing retreat
• 50 pages of RTMM, including 2 purple roses at MLK retreat
  judge GH entries
• begin 'self-improvement' program -- MAKE YOUR CREATIVE DREAMS REAL by SARK BEGUN!
• e-mail annual writing goals to agent I did this. But then she told me she's retiring
• writing expenses for taxes
• crit on 1/8 and 1/22 1/8 cancelled due to weather
• Participate in January BIAW
• cost estimates for local RWA Chapter Operating Manual
• P&P article for local RWA Chapter

Tomorrow I'll share my progress.

January: The Action Plan

WRITING GOALS
*finish DESK DIVA on positive thinking
*print revised RTMM in time for MLK
*Annual MLK writing retreat
*50 pages of RTMM, including 2 purple roses at MLK retreat

*judge GH entries
*begin 'self-improvement' program -- MAKE YOUR CREATIVE DREAMS REAL by SARK
*e-mail annual writing goals to agent
*writing expenses for taxes
*crit on 1/8 and 1/22
*Participate in January BIAW
*cost estimates for local RWA Chapter Operating Manual
*P&P article for local RWA Chapter

MY FEET
*slather cream on feet at least 1ce a week
*polish toes with "Cherries in the Snow"
(in photo, toes are wearing "Royal Purple Chrome" nail makeup)

Happy New Year

Another year gone by. Lots of goals completed, yet I don't feel as if I've accomplished anything. ::sigh::

One of my writing-related goals for 2009 (I set goals instead of making resolutions) is to revamp my website & blog. So this year's blog will be about my writing goals.

Last week, my PHriends and I got together for a goal setting session. It was impromptu, we were all there, and it was great fun. Listening to what others had on their lists helped me clarify mine.

Here are my writing-related goals for 2009:

• Finish current WIP (or as her Nora-ness would call it, POS)
• Develop a highly marketable concept for agent to sell
• Revamp website/blog
• Series of articles for dayjob newsletter
• annual MLK Weekend Writing Retreat
• Writing "Self-Improvement" program, probably something SARK
• Meet with critique group 2x per month
• Local RWA chapter:
  Continue Loops & Links (for the main loop)
  Operations Manual Chair
  Monthly article explaining P&P
  June speaker: The Process of Submitting

Other goals I will be 'tracking' on the blog:

• Create a package of short articles to market & sell to other companies for their news letters
• Take better care of feet.

Now, that final one has generated some comments.

Kris said: "I love the goal about taking care of your feet. For some reason, that one just makes me smile every time I see it. "

Braveheart Barbie said: "This is so interesting. I have been doing this for myself for about 4 weeks now."

And X-Chromo said: "It's about time. Your feet are disgusting. And unfortunately, I inherited the Disgusting Feet gene from you."

Here's the plan for the blog this year. I will post a minimum of twice per month. The first post will be my Action Plan for that month. The second post will be a review of the Action Plan.

Betcha can't wait.