Friday, July 29, 2016

Do You Have Goals Update


Many thanks to Misha and Beth for hosting this invigorating blog hop each month. 

Misha kindly hosted me for a guest post on "Starting Over" last week! 

Writing Goal: 25,000 words each month.
July: Finished 15,050 words (mostly after the 15th).

I had some serious doubts about my WIP Patient (unhappy marriage arrangements, kidnapping by dragon kin, magic, dragons, etc), wrote more short stories, and did some research for Great Glory (a foray into historical fiction and redeeming a historical villain). 

I had eight stories and poems published this month - hooray! (See links at end of post, if interested.) 
I also had one story acceptance and one poetry acceptance for future publications in August and November.
And, I had five rejections, which all rolled into my e-mail within four days of each other.
Seventeen stories/poems/articles are currently out on submission or re-submission. 

Exercise Goals: 
Walked: 40 (just about where I want to be)
Biked: 90 miles. Yes, this is getting back where I want to be.


Maybe Marketing:  
I decided to do something crazy and clean out the books I have in my basement by hosting:

Books for a Mission - an event this coming Saturday from Noon to 2 PM at the Subway on Point Fosdick Dr. NW, Gig Harbor (if you're local, please come). 

What this is: a donation to the One Hope Church Peru Mission Team = a signed paperback by me (while supplies last) and a Subway chocolate chip cookie (while supplies last).
All proceeds will go to the mission team. (I'm donating the books and hoping others will donate cash.)

The mission team is going to give away health kits and run an after-school program at several elementary schools in Peru. 


Spiritual Growth: sometimes this happens because I remember to read my Bible and pray, and sometimes God just throws stuff in my path so I get forced to grow. 

It's been a serious time of prayer these last few weeks. Beyond all the violence, I have had several reasons close to home to pray. Some friends have two teens who have been in the ICU in the last few weeks. (Two teens, same family, two different circumstances.) One of those teens is a living, walking miracle - he fell from a 350 foot waterfall and could actually walk 5 days later, athough his full recovery will take longer. The other teen was on a mission trip and collapsed, but is now recovering. 

At home, we discovered that my oldest daughter fractured her foot in two places, not just one, but the most recent x-rays showed good bone growth/healing. And, while my husband is healthy enough to ride 206 miles on an organized bicycle ride from Seattle to Portland in one day, he started to feel ill and was diagnosed with pneumonia a few days later. He's recovering quickly, but he doesn't like to rest.

My parents took their annual scooter trip and along the road they lost: my mom's hearing aids, my mom's glasses, one of my dad's teeth, and part of my dad's prosthetic leg. 
Thankfully, my dad carries spare parts and my mom's hearing aids were insured. I'm not sure 70+ is a good age to be riding the highways on a scooter with a sidecar, but they are happier when they travel. We definitely had some good laughs over all the missing gear and they haven't lost their sense of humor. (They are home safe now.)

Rest: in some moments, this happened. I'm hoping for more next month.


So, how are your goals coming along this month/year?
And, do you carry spare parts with you when you travel?




Short Stories Published This Month - if you have time to read:
"The Fence" at The Drabble. July 24th, 2016. (Beware: story content includes child abuse.)
"Good Enough" at The Drabble. July 17th, 2016. (Beware: this is a story commentary on rape culture.)

"Spikes" at Seven by Twenty. (Twitter fiction)
"Floppy Sunhat" at Seven by Twenty.  (Twitter fiction)
"From Heat to Final" at Seven by Twenty. (Twitter Fiction)
"Racing" at Seven by Twenty.  (Twitter fiction)
"Races End" at Seven by Twenty. (Twitter fiction)

"The Shimmer" at Between Worlds Zine. (Flash fiction. Beware: story content includes child abuse.)

My "happier" fiction just has been low on acceptances lately. Maybe I write depressing stuff better? 


I keep forgetting to mention this, but two of my books are 50% off at the Smashwords July Summer Sale. If you're looking to pick up Champion in Flight or Champion's Destiny, this is a good day to do it. :)

And, Check out the Wings' Edge Call of Submissions Here!

32 comments:

Stephanie Faris said...

How cool that you're doing a charity signing! That's a great idea. My goals...I think I'm doing them. It was to land more high-paying freelance gigs. I've definitely done that, but it seems as soon as I get one, it ends!

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Wow, a miracle that boy who fell was not hurt worse or killed.
Congratulations on all of the acceptances.
Good luck with the charity event!

Madeline Mora-Summonte said...

Congratulations on the publications and acceptances! You are doing awesome!

That story about your parents and everything they lost - except their sense of humor! - would make a great story or essay or something. Totally cracked me up. :)

Tyrean Martinson said...

That's wonderful, Stephanie!!

Tyrean Martinson said...

Yes, he is definitely a walking miracle. In the last few weeks, at least 7 people have fallen from cliffs or waterfalls in our area and only one has survived.
And, thanks!!!

Tyrean Martinson said...

Thanks, Madeline! I did try to write it out, but I'm not sure it quite captured what I wanted yet. It may need a revision. :)

Beth said...

You are doing way better with your goals than I am!

Unknown said...

Thanks, Beth. This blog hop really helps keep me on track. I have fallen behind on my word count, but I keep just getting a few more on the page.

Tyrean Martinson said...

This is what happens when I get logged in on the wrong account . . .

L. Diane Wolfe said...

They lost your dad's leg? I hope they can see the humor in it now.

Congrats on so many published pieces.

H. R. Sinclair said...

I pray for a speeding recovery for everyone. Your parents sound adorable.

Congrats on the published work.

Olga Godim said...

You're doing great, Tyrean. Congrats on all your publications and acceptances, but I'm sorry for all the health-related problems among your family and friends. And still you make time to write. Amazing!

JEN Garrett said...

Looks like you're goals are coming along! I'm hoping my post helped you with your rejections. :)

Heather R. Holden said...

Congrats on all the publications and acceptances this month! That's amazing! I've seen a few of these stories pop up on Twitter already, and I've enjoyed each and every one of them.

That's unfortunate about all the tragedies and general health issues on your side of the 'net lately, though. Glad everyone seems to be recovering, at the very least! Still, how scary to have to deal with anything like that at all...

Anonymous said...

Congrats on the publications! I did well on my goals this month, but they were small since the beginning of the month my mom was having surgery so I focused on that.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

Wow, congrats on a great month. I didn't do near so well. Maybe next month.

Anonymous said...

Congrats on all your publications and acceptances!! That's wonderful! Prayers for your family and friends that they heal quickly. Your story about your parents losing parts cracked me up. I'm glad to hear they're home safe. Good luck with your marketing mission!

Misha Gerrick said...

Well done! You've had a good goal-month. I'm sorry to read about your friends' kids though. Praying for them.

Ruth Livingstone said...

Goodness me, your parents seem to have bad luck with their belongings. Does your father ride a scooter *with* a prosthetic leg? And how on earth did he lose it? (Definitely a story to be written here). Well done on achieving so much this month, despite your family dramas.

Tyrean Martinson said...

Thank you!!!

Tyrean Martinson said...

Thanks, Olga. I made a little time to write - sometimes it keeps me going in the right direction.

Tyrean Martinson said...

Yes, it did!
Thanks, Jen!

Tyrean Martinson said...

Thank you!

And yes, it is a bit scary to deal with the tough stuff, but the recovery has been amazing!!!

Tyrean Martinson said...

Thank you!
That's smart to change your goals for the month when you have hard stuff going on. I hope your mom is healing really well!

Tyrean Martinson said...

THank you, Susan!!! It didn't feel so great in the middle of it, but it definitely moved forward fast.

Tyrean Martinson said...

Thank you, thank you, thank you, Lori!!! :)

Tyrean Martinson said...

Thank you!
And, thank you for your prayers.

Tyrean Martinson said...

Thanks, Ruth!
Yes, my parents had a rather rough go, but they enjoyed their trip with a good dose of humor. My dad does ride his scooter with a prosthetic leg. It's a large scooter with a sidecar, and scooters have hand controls instead of foot controls like motorcycles - that's the main difference between the two designations of motor bikes.

Annalisa Crawford said...

I read the first two stories you listed - definitely pause for thought! Intense and visual.

I really should get some shorts written and submitted. You're doing so well to meet your goals.

cleemckenzie said...

You're on a roll, Tyrean. Keep up the great work.

Mark said...

Those are some hefty goal! But definitely worthwhile ones:) Best of luck to you, Tyrean! :)

Romance Reader said...

Awesome work! Keep it up!