January 2025, Goals with Vision, and IWSG

 

Hello 2025!

As part of my New Year Celebrations, I come up with goals for the year - both broad and specific, all falling under one vision/focus phrase.

This year, my focus phrase is: No Doubt, All Courage.

My broad goals are: 

Healthy Body, Healthy Mind, Healthy Writer.

Developing Worlds and Words

Creative Visibility

I'll be giving weekly and monthly updates on those throughout the year here, in my newsletter, and on my podcast.

But let's jump into today's Insecure Writer's Support Group post:

"The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer - aim for a dozen new people each time - and return comments. This group is all about connecting!" (Quote from IWSG Page)

Our optional question of the month is: Describe someone you admired when you were a child. Did your opinion of that person change when you grew up?

Tall, lean, red-headed, always quick with encouragement, a story, and a smile, Mr. Morrison was a kindly neighbor who lived on our street, one of the few I called by last name. I knew he was a teacher at my school and knew he had a fun job in the summers as a National Park Ranger. He moved and I was sad, and then I leveled up a few grades and found out he had only moved neighborhoods. In fact, he became my fifth grade teacher, and then became my sixth grade math teacher - he "moved up" with my entire grade level because my age group happened to be the largest graduating class my school (and district) had ever had. 

But that's getting ahead a bit. 

In class, Mr. Morrison encouraged, told stories, and smiled - most of the time. He loved science, art, history, math, and storytelling. He loved his students. But, he did have an issue with messy desks. One other student and I nearly drove him to distraction... yep. While he was my favorite teacher of all time, I got in trouble in his class. I respected him for actually seeing what was going on in his classroom and on the playground.

When I started having troubles with hyperfocus, he didn't let me get away with showing up late to class. He may not have had any knowledge of ADHD, because that term hadn't been coined then - or at least wasn't known at my school - but he did try to help me overcome it. When I had to stay in class and write sentences about not being late to class because I hadn't heard the bell ring while in the library reading (yes, I hyperfocus whenever there are words in front of me), I told him what had happened. It was the third incident of it that got me the sentences, btw, he was a teacher who believed in second and third chances before he meted out punishment (unless he caught someone bullying someone else). When I told him the trouble I was having, he seemed puzzled - and at first, he said he doubted my story, but he checked in with the librarians and learned I was telling the truth. He told me to a) go outside during lunch recess instead of going to the library because I needed fresh air, but also b) to try sitting in an uncomfortable position to read or only allowing myself to read the last chapters of a book in the library, or to read standing up or by the librarian's desk and have the librarian say something to me. I followed his advice. It didn't always work, but it helped.

When I had him for math the next year, he tried to give me more pointers on how to break my hyperfocus, but again, mostly advised me to get outside at lunch recess because he thought I needed more outside time, and I did like being outside, so I mostly did that. But he knew that I had trouble with bullies on the playground, so he also went outside more as a playground "extra" to supervise. The whole reason I had started going to the library was because of bullies, and he did not like bullying behavior.

And that wasn't what I was planning to write at all when I started this. I meant to write about his amazing and incredibly performance of The Cremation of Sam McGee, a poem by Robert W. Service (complete with dressing up and putting on an accent), his 30 Questions (20 questions with 30 students) game concerning an object in his desk that always had something to do with our science lesson after lunch - a few memorable objects were a goat's eyeball and a owl's pellet, his classroom court in which anyone could take someone else to court (he was the judge complete with robe and wig), his pretend money and checkbook system which we used for biweekly flea markets where we could sell each other free/used items and could earn money through rewards, bank money, and use our checkbooks, his recognition and encouragement that art could be fun (this was news to me, since all my other elementary school teachers made it terrible), and his love of being outside and talking about trees, plants, and animals with wonder and amazement.

And did I ever feel disappointed in him? Maybe once, yes, in fifth grade, when he lost his temper with the other student who had a messy desk. But years later, when I was a volunteer for elementary outdoor camp, I convinced Mr. Morrison and that other student to talk to each other and that redeemed him in my eyes. I'm not going to say he was perfect, but for years, when I went to Mt. Rainier (close to me at the time) I went to the side of Mt. Rainier National Park he worked at because then I would have a chance to say hello to Mr. Morrison, if he happened to be working at the entrance gate or at one of the trailhead areas - where he was known for putting on the best performance of The Cremation of Sam McGee. 

Other strange facts that I could mention here: the other student with the messy desk was also red-headed. I dated the other student with the messy desk briefly (three dates) in high school. And I married a redhead - but not one related to Mr. M or the other student I knew way back. How's that for small town life, and obviously, a bias toward gingers - although I've only written about one ginger character in any of my books. 

The awesome co-hosts for the January 8 posting of the IWSG are Rebecca Douglass, Beth Camp, Liza @ Middle Passages, and Natalie @ Literary Rambles!

Happy New Year and IWSG Day!

What are your goals this year? Or your best memories of someone you admired when you were younger?

Do You Have Goals? with Pictures

Do You Have Goals? is an encouraging blog hop started by Misha. 

Please go here to see the full list of participants and to sign up. 

Goals? What goals? Ohhh, those goals. 

I lost track of my goals as I ran from one project to the next, from one exciting, life opportunity to the next challenge, to one day to the next.

So, let's just put that massive list of goals on hold for now.

What I really did:

1. I prepared for my three independent contract classes for homeschool co-op and taught a bit around my trip.

2. I wrote several worksheets for grammar. These focused on verb conjugation and verbals, such as gerunds, participles, and infinitives. (In current grammar standards, it is okay to spit infinitives like all Star Trek lovers who want to boldly go ...)

3. I went to the Czech Republic via Heathrow in London. This means, I left the states at 5:30 Pacific Time on a Monday, spent a four hour layover in Heathrow on Tuesday mid-day, and then arrived in Prague on Tuesday night.

4. I got to feel like a rock star! For the first time in my life, a taxi driver from a hotel stood at the airport arrivals area with my name on a sign. I almost took a picture of him and the sign because I was so thrilled. Yes, I'm a geek, but since he seemed embarrassed at the idea, I didn't take the picture.

5. If you haven't guessed, I traveled solo. I left one day after Team USA and after most of the parents who went. This meant I toured solo most of the first day and part of the second. It challenged my perception of myself and helped me realize that I do have the ability to travel in a foreign country, figure out planes, taxis, trains, and directions without a travel buddy, and even without working data on my phone since the international data plan I thought I had didn't work for most of the trip. (My husband stayed home (again!) but if my daughter makes it next year, I will drag him with me somehow - not because I have to someone to lean on to travel but because I really want him with me.)

6. I had an awesome trip, saw amazing sights, and watched Team USA race at the Olympic Hopes Regatta for three days in Racice, Czech Republic. I highly recommend visiting Prague, Karlstejn Castle (southwest of Prague via train), and the countryside in the Czech Republic. The following pics are just a small taste of what I saw:

The Old Town Astronomical Clock - 600 Hundred Years Old and Still Ticking! 

The ceiling of a small Hussite Church that I happened upon when I was sort of lost. 

One small view from St. Charles Bridge in Prague

St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague

Part of the old section of Prague Castle - which is a working castle in other sections.

One of the armor exhibits in a small section of the Golden Lane in Prague Castle.

My daughter and her K2 partner racing in the K2 500m. (Kayak with 2 people for 500m)

Same race. They did well enough in their heat to move onto the semi-finals. They didn't make finals, but I cheered as loud as I could for the races they had! (My daughter also competed in a K1 1000m, a K1 200m, and a K4 200m for her age division of 2001 women.)

My youngest. 

7. I didn't get all the research done that I wanted, but I did do some travel journaling on my pc, in a notebook, and on my phone.

8. On the way back, I had a seven hour layover in London so I left the airport, rode Heathrow Express, rode the tube (underground), and took a short walking tour from Westminster to Buckingham Palace via Leicester Square and Picadilly Circus. In Leicester Square, they were getting ready for the red carpet premier of the second Kingsman movie ... if I just had a longer layover, I could have been a crazy fan and waited around to take pictures of Colin Firth! :) But, I just kept walking and went to Waterstones, the largest bookstore in London, instead. I made it back to Heathrow in time to go through all the security and get to my gate with 20 minutes to spare before boarding even started. It was the ideal way to spend a layover in London and I am glad I had the opportunity.

I feel like traveling changes my perceptions and broadens the horizons I allow myself to see. I gain confidence from adventures and I am incredibly thankful for the chance to see a small part of the wide world beyond my usual corner. I hope to share some more in-depth insights from specific parts of the trip in future posts. As it is, I feel like this is a bit overly long for a goals update day. (sorry)

By the way, Team USA placed seventh overall out of thirty-three countries competing at the Olympic Hopes Regatta this year. One of our female canoeists - hailing from the Seattle team - won two gold medals and a silver medal. These are the first gold and silver medals ever won by the USA at an Olympic Hopes Canoe and Kayak Regatta.
(Last year, two young women received a bronze in a C2 race.)

Points are earned for the teams by individual race medals, placement in the finals, and the number of athletes who make semi-finals. Each athlete competes in three or more races at these events with three distances - 1000m, 500m, and 200m - broken into age categories, gender categories, and then individual or small team boat categories - K1, K2, K4, C1, C2, C4. K means Kayak, C means Canoe, and the number means the number of people in the boat.
900 athletes competed from all parts of the globe.

Next month, I'll get back to regular goals.

Celebrations and Do You Have Goals Mixed Together

Celebrate The Small Things and Do You Have Goals Mixed Together - The Insanity Edition

Many thanks to Lexa Cain, LG Keltner, Katie, Misha, and Beth for these two positive hops!

I realized that my goals might be slightly insane. In fact, I decided around March 10th, that I might tear out all my hair need to slow them down a bit for sanity. But here is a glimpse of the work I've been doing. (Beware, although I am celebrating, there's a bit of a vent in here, too.) Hit bold highlights if you need to run . . .

Dynamic Writing 1 ground me into my desk and gave me formatting for e-book nightmares. I struggled and decided to put out a "sample" book with the first 15 lessons . . . on a whim. Not sure it's the right move, but it's available via kindle for 99 cents. 



After looking at curriculum prices and noticing that most curricula don't come via e-book and that they usually cost over $25, I thought I might split Dynamic Writing 1 into two different e-books, for first semester and second semester. Then, I decided to "improve" a few of the lessons by changing some of the order around. Formatting nightmares ensued. I had first semester out for kindle and Smashwords for a few days and was happy that no copies sold because it didn't pass the Smashwords Epub check and I can't figure out why. Is it because it's in 2.0 spacing? I need at least the writing samples to be in 2.0 spacing because that's the required spacing for my students when I teach the class. It's either that or the numeric lists of questions and answers for the sentence variation practice problems. I don't really want to pay an exorbitant fee to get the formatting done, so currently I'm planning on finishing the paperback in late May, and if I can fix the stinking e-book formatting issues by then, I'll re-release the e-book version.

Dynamic Writing 1 contains 185 lessons in writing that cover journal practice writing, sentence variations practice, and a multiple draft process for essays, poetry, and short fiction. I've been using a "casual," private print version for a year now with one of my classes. It's basically all the notes that I had for class bound into a book. And, I have Dynamic Writing 2 and 3 drafted out that way as well. However, taking it to the "public" and formal level has had me banging my head on my desk. I think I should have avoided the idea of an e-book and just gone for a print format first.

Celebration point for that mess: Progress.

In my tiny, experimental, "crazy" writing, things have been going much better.

Ashes Burn Season 2: Ashes Stirred has been merrily airing three times a week for a few months now, and I just compiled it all into it's own little e-book. Today is release day for Ashes Burn Season 2: Ashes Stirred! The first five official (with a comment) visitors here, at the Ashes Burn blog and at the Wings of Light Publishing blog can get a free download via a Smashwords coupon, if so desired. It's available for 99 cents at:
Kindle
Nook
Smashwords
Kobo

And Ashes Burn Season One: Ashes Away is #perma-free since it is a strange experiment in tiny writing form.
Kindle
Nook
Smashwords
Kobo







Other writing goals for 2015 have received a paring down to size that will allow for some sanity. Dynamic Writing 2 and 3 may or may not be released this year. Champion's Destiny and some short stories are my next top priorities, along with surviving A to Z as a Commando Muffin. (Oh, and finishing at least the paperback of Dynamic Writing 1 before June. Agh.)

Exercise: I'm back to it! I can walk 1 mile, bike 30-40 minutes on an exercise bike without much tension on it, and I can do yoga.

Prayer: every day, all the time, as much as I can. Bible study: some days, yes. some days, less.

Relational: the invitational attitude idea kind of suffered when my kids were sick earlier this month and I was tearing my hair out over projects. We did invite friends to see a movie with us. Our niece came to dinner one night. And, I had some guests and spotlights here at my blog, including Shelly Sly, Elizabeth Seckman, Lori L. MacLaughlin, Emma L. Adams, and Nick Wilford. I'm planning to celebrate them again, along with a few others, for A to Z!

Write 1 Sub 1 goals: I wrote and subbed a flash fiction story to Brilliant Flash Fiction's photo prompt contest and . . . the results of that are below. (Happy dance)

Lexa Cain, awesome leader of the Celebrate the Small Things hop, requested some pics of the kayaking and canoeing race from last weekend, but the wind came up, the rain came down, and my girls both had a really rough day (falling in, broken rudder on the kayak, etc.) so I'm going to wait until I have a cheerier pic to show.

On a last, and unexpected, celebratory note:
I had a fun-to-write-but-quirky flash fiction story, "The Biggest Waterslide," short-listed at Brilliant Flash Fiction's last photo prompt contest. It's the seventh story on the page. I was in stinky armpit mode the day that I wrote it - hard to explain, unless you read it.

And I have a couple of tiny twitter stories up @7x20 this week: "Buzz" went live yesterday and "almost spring" will air later today.

What are you celebrating today? Are you staying sane in pursuit of your Dream Goals? 

And, if you can, please check out that story for free, or pick up a free copy of Ashes Burn Season One, or a 99 cent copy of Ashes Burn Season Two. :)

Celebrate, Goals, and Upcoming Flight Fest

With many thanks to Viklit and fellow co-hosts, this week I'm celebrating:

1. Active happiness! Bike-riding makes me happy. Church softball makes my husband happy. Dance makes my oldest daughter happy. Kayaking makes my youngest daughter happy. And then, I'm quadruple happy that we can all be active and happy.

2. The amazing encouragement I've received for the release of Champion in Flight! Thank you! It's just a few days away!!! Squeal! Dance!

3. Having goals - see below.

4. My "No Tracks" hint fiction story made it into the top 20 at Robert Swartwood's Hint Fiction contest - and any votes that can push it into the top ten would be appreciated! Out of the top ten, three prize winners will be chosen. Vote here!

4. Finalized formatting for Champion in Flight, and pre-orders through Smashwords this week!

Many thanks to Misha Gericke for dreaming up and hosting this hop!

My crazy big dream goal for this year was to publish 2-3 book titles for this year, plus find publication for some short fiction and poetry.

Progress: Light Reflections poetry collection book at Lulu (planning to get the ebook uploaded someday), Champion in Flight out in ebook this coming Sunday/Monday (Smashwords Sunday, with Kindle showing up Sunday/Monday)! Plus, two poems and one hint fiction story published! And, another hint fiction story up for voting at Robert Swartwood's Hint Fiction Contest. Votes for "No Tracks" are appreciated, and voting closes tomorrow.

Moving forward: Flight Fest Week next week, Champion's Destiny rough draft (already in outline form), and three writing books for homeschool co-op/curriculum. The reason behind these last three books is that I write up and print out over a hundred pages of lessons every year for each of my students so I actually think that writing books or booklets would be less expensive for printing costs . . . crazy, huh? And, who knows, maybe someone else would be interested in purchasing and using some of my teaching materials?


Come back tomorrow for a big cover reveal from Miss Jack Lewis Baillot and her newest book!

Do you have crazy big dream goals? What are you celebrating this week? Are you interested in joining Flight Fest? And do you know Miss Jack Lewis Baillot?

BTW, Flight Fest had a linky, but at this point, anyone can join in - just shoot me an e-mail or leave a comment next week.

Flight Fest Questions (answers in 100 words or less): What's your favorite way to fly and why? Griffin? Millennium Falcon? E.T. with bicycle? Cessna? Ercoupe? Glider? Dragon? Giant Eagle? Space Shuttle? The Enterprise?

IWSG: Two Year Anniversary!

Happy Two Year Anniversary, IWSG!!! You Rock!

And Three Cheers for Ninja Captain Alex J. Cavanaugh!!! Huzzah! Huzzah! Huzzah!!! Rock on Dude! We love you and all that you do to make this blogsphere a positive place!

I had an entirely different post planned until I found out about the blogaversary, and now I all my insecurities have been replaced by gratitude.

Thank you, one and all for being willing to bare bones honest with insecurities, or by giving awesome positive advice and encouragement!!! Thank you!!!!

And so, for this month I say:

Enjoy Writing! Love on your characters! Have fun! Joy in action keeps those insecurities from piling too high.

Just keep writing! :)

This is the best blog hop ever:

IWSG 2013

Insecure Writers Support Group is an awesome group of encouraging writers, started by the awesome Ninja Captain (no hyperlink needed) Alex J. Cavanaugh. Even Ninja Captains have work to do and busy days, so Alex is sharing his love of IWSG by sharing some of the work. This month, I have the honor to be one of the hosts, along with Jamie from Mithril Wisdom.

Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!

Posting: The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer - aim for a dozen new people each time.
 


2012 is gone and done, and 2013 is here. It's a time of reflection. A time to ask questions. A time to make goals.

Have we changed, grown, found new hope?

Or are we still stuck in a morass of insecurity?

Yes, and no, I think. When we sit down to write, we hope, we change, and we grow. We defy insecurity.

However, there are those moments, especially for me in the revison process, that I answer yes to that second question.

A few days ago, I was in state of total fear, sure that my novel Champion in the Darkness sucked in a complete and undeniable way . . .and I started OCDing on fixing everything, at once, immediately . . .and chocolate breaks and walking breaks, and whining breaks weren't fixing anything. Thoughts inside my head went like this: What was I thinking setting myself a release date in February? Am I crazy? There's no way this novel will amount to anything good by then, if ever.

And then New Year's Eve, I sat down and decided to just read a section without listening to that insane inner editor, and I found a part I really liked. Thoughts inside my head went like this: "well, if they (the readers) make it this far into the book, this part is mostly good. Releasing this book in February will work. Somehow it will."

So, my writing goal goals for 2013 are:
1. Defy Insecurity. Write. Hope. Dream. Write again.

2. Publish Champion in the Darkness in February.

3. Revise Champion in Flight (sequel to Champion in the Darkness).

4. Decide what do do with Captain Wrath. (I thought I would know by now but I don't.)

5. Finish and Publish Short Stuff - an anthology of poetry and short stories.

6. Write a rough draft of Champion Refined by Fire (working title).


So, what are your goals this year?
Are you ready to defy insecurity?

Turning the Page

New Year's Eve feels like the turn of a new page in an open book. I know, from my faith, that the pages have already been written by the Author of life, but I haven't seen them yet. It's like they are in invisible ink and will only appear as life enfolds, as I turn the page.

New Year's Eve invites me to look back on the story so far, and look forward to the adventures to come, knowing with confidence that the end of the book is a happy one, even if there are trials on the way.

One way that I look forward is to create goals . . . you know, New Year resolutions.

For 2012, I have some goals to improve my blog.

1. Keep my posts shorter - hovering around 250 words. (splurging maybe to 500 once in a while)

2. Post pictures or video with every post.

3. Keep a steady schedule. Unless a blogfest beckons, I will post M, W, F.

4. Pre-write my posts. No more seat-of-pants rambling.

5. Get to each of these themes once a month:

Encouragement
Blessings/Gratitude
Writing
Reading/Books
Parenting/Homeschooling/Teaching
Worship
Poetry/Humming like Pooh
Social Causes/Needs
Movie/Book/Storytelling Reviews
Interview/author highlight/guest post
Blog/website highlight day
Random Day (only once a month)

6. Visit more blogs, and encourage fellow bloggers.


Do you have any goals this year? Feel ready for 2012?
Have a metaphor for New Year's Eve?

Happy New Year!!!!