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Friday, January 31, 2014

Write Motivation, Write 1 Sub 1, and Celebrate the Small Things

It's the end of January, and it's time to check in on my goals.
Hmm. Where did I put those things?
I didn't post them by my desk.
I didn't carry them around.
I hid them in a file folder that I didn't recognize on my pc.
oops.

I don't think I get to eat the cookies this month. :(
Here were my specific write motivation goals for January.
In Writing:
1.      Finish Champion in Flight 3rd Draft. - eek. I didn't finish.
2.      Send the rest of the book to my proofreader(s). - see #1
3.      Write 3 pages in my journal each day and write poetry in the midst of that. - almost - 65 pages of journaling with poetry on Day 30 . . . so I made progress here.

With my blog Blog: Keep with 1-2 posts a week. Trim the size of posts. Done, except for two lengthy posts (including this one).

 Exercise/Life/Health goals:
1.      Smoothie Challenge for January. - almost done!
2.      Bike 20 miles a week on exercise bike and 12 miles a week on outdoor bike. Cross-train. - Does it count that I biked about half of this and cross-trained?
3.      Stretch every day. - about half the days.
4.      Organize my time. Keep goals and lists. - since I lost this list, obviously not!


Yikes. Ok. So how did I do for the Write 1 Sub 1 Challenge this month? Four weeks went by, and I wrote 20 poems (mostly junk), 2 stories, and made 3 submissions. Hmm. I've got the Write 1 done, but the submit part, I'm struggling with. Does it count that I have a planned submission for February 1st all written up and waiting in my e-mail dock to go out? There's a specific submission window for a particular publication.

So, my goals helped me, but were a bit beyond my reach this month. I learned some things. I remembered belatedly that my oldest daughter's birthday does have far reaching effects on my time and writing - especially since I wrote a mystery theater piece for her and 15 friends to act out on her birthday this year - and especially because I love that she loves having big parties. We both get a lot of joy out of planning and creating fun events like that, but it's also time consuming and I need to remember that when planning January goals.


Celebrating the Small Things with Viklit and fellow celebrators:
This week:
1. I found my goal list. :)
2. I ran a half mile with my youngest daughter (running hasn't been possible for a while for me, so this is a huge thing).
3. My poem, "Robot Sonnet," went live at Bewildering Stories on Monday. (And I wrote this one for Write 1 Sub 1 earlier this month)

What are you celebrating today? And how are your goals working out this month?


22 comments:

  1. So many challenges! I've just done a month without alcohol, which was OK. Going to try for a February without biscuits - wish me luck.

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  2. Cross training counts.
    That's cool about your poem. And it was a Write1Sub1 poem. See, you're doing it.

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  3. Funny post. So typical in my life too. I don't cross train but try to walk a mile or two a day, need to stretch more. I lose everything. Good luck with your goals.

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  4. I think you're doing just fine! The fact that you found your list and have done at least some of the stuff counts. Great job!

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  5. I think having the submission planned definitely counts! I loved your poem.
    Kudos on finding your goal list LOL.

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  6. I love the idea of a mystery theater event for your daughter's birthday party - how fun!

    And hey, accomplishing half your goals is better than not accomplishing any, or not having any goals in the first place. :)

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  7. I'm bad with sticking to my goals too. Would probably work out better if I actually keep the list. :) At least you got to do some of them so way to go!

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  8. Congrats on robot Sonnet going live :)

    Finding your goal list is a good start. So you didn't accomplish all BUT that does sound like a lot of work you writing the mystery theater piece. Amazing and how fun!

    Good luck with February's goals!

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  9. I salute your work ethic. This is why I couldn't write for a living (or a profit)- for me, it needs to be fun, and fun don't want no schedule.

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  10. Well done on the running, I really need to take it up again.

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  11. Julia - way to go!! No biscuits - aah! I probably should try that too. :)

    Alex - Thanks! I keep putting one word down after another.

    Cathrina - Way to go with the walking! I can only walk/run/stay on my feet so far, and then I have to do something else so cross-training - by which I mean any different exercise - is something I have to do. And Thanks!

    Lynda - Thanks!

    Julie - Thanks! I'm glad you liked it. :)

    Madeline - Thanks! Yes, shooting for the stars and landing on a hillside is better than staying flat on the ground . . . or something like that.

    Caffee - yes, keeping the list, or being able to find it helps!

    SK - Thanks! Yes, I didn't quite realize (for some crazy reason) just how much work that mystery theatre piece was going to take - 16 girls . . . multiple clues and red herrings . . . but somehow it worked out.

    CW - Fun has to be a part of it, otherwise I would never get any of it done. Some of my goals are fun goals . . . I just didn't share them. :)

    Viklit - Thanks! It's not my strength anymore, but I want to try again.

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  12. Your making some real strides there Tyrean!

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  13. Sounds like you're sticking darned close to those goals. Congratulations.

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  14. Maurice - I hope so. :) Thanks!

    C.Lee - You think? I don't know. But thanks!!!

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  15. 3 pages of a journal everyday is a super idea.

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  16. You've been BUSY -- glad the W1S1 challenge is working for you. The way I figure, if it gets me to write and submit work I wouldn't have otherwise (due to perceived time constraints), then it's definitely working.

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  17. Wow, you had a lot of goals in January! I can see how your daughter's birthday would distract you, but yay you for being able to accomplish some of your goals despite that! :)

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  18. My goodness, you have a lot of goals. Maybe your next goal should be to never have more than 3 goals going at any one time ;)
    But, hang on, I've just had a look at my own goal list (2 writing, 4 fitness/health, 2 further studies, 1 massive blogging one) I realise I am as bad as you!

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  19. It is hard to keep goals going when life hits, but you got some of them done so that is always wonderful! (Your biking goal sounds fun, I love biking.)

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  20. Wow! It sounds like you're doing some amazing things. Good luck in February!

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  21. I'm doing pretty well so far this month on my diet! I don't stretch every day. What does that do? Maybe I need to start doing that!

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  22. I think 3 subs is great, though of course I know the goal is for one per week. But you're on the right track for sure!!

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Thanks for taking time to share your awesomeness!