Do You Have Goals? #writemotivation and Celebrate the Small Things! Whew.

Do You Have Goals? is a Big Dream blog hop hosted by Misha Gericke and Beth Fred. Writers are encouraged to dream up huge goals and then report their progress once a month.

My Big Dream goal is: to self-publish 2-3 books/novellas and some short works.

Progress so far: I self-pubbed a poetry book, Light Reflections, this month; Champion in Flight is on a slow but steady track for the final draft with outside proofreading help, and a hoped for release date in late April or early may. I also have several outlines in progress, and a couple of homeschool curriculum writing books underway. However, I didn't make as much progress as I would like to this month.

#writemotivation is a weekly check-in goal group, and although I'm struggling with posting weekly updates (I seem to have some really bad weeks), I am finding that helpful. These were my goals for the month.

1. Revise ten chapters of Champion in Flight. - Sort of reached this goal for the month. I went back over 6 chapters with proofreading, tweaked 7 more, and re-wrote one.

2. Finish critique of friend's novel. - Yes!!!

3. Bike 80 miles by the end of the month. - had a bad week in mid-month. Only clocked 63 miles.

4. Complete Write 1 Sub 1 challenge. - yes and no. I seem to sub every other week, but I did write 1 every week, and sub a total of 17 poems and two stories - poems are often subbed in groupings of three or more.

5. Drink 4+ glasses of water each day. - Yes, sometimes. And then, other days, I just drank way too much tea.

6. Jump in some puddles. - oops. I forgot the fun one. Does walking in slush in a ski parking lot count? Not quite.

7. Ski, laugh, and have fun with journal writing. - yes, yes, and yes. :)


Celebrate the Small Things: (An awesome weekly hop hosted by Viklit)
1. Everything in this post. Progress made. Goals written and actually checked, even if I couldn't cross them all off.

2. Ski day today!

3. My daughter's wrist is healing, although she doesn't get to try out for kayaking for two more weeks - doctor's orders.


What are you celebrating today? Have any Big Dream Goals?

 

Inspiration Links and Comment Catch Up

So, today, I was just going to write after my quiet time.

Then, of course, I became distracted by the shiny, sparkling, internet . . .

And I found an article that had me thinking of world-building in a different, real world way.
Tiny Houses for the Homeless http://news.msn.com/us/tiny-houses-help-address-nations-homeless-problem

And that led me to this site that made me wish I could serve food from a food truck like they have, or take part in building a community like this near where I live:
http://mlf.org/community-first/ - Community First Project


And then, somehow, I found this inspirational article by a Dad I happen to know:
A Father's Story
It's the best story I've read today, it's true, and it's a tear jerker, but totally worth it.

And then, I felt inspired by Nutschell's interview of Natalie Aguirre at Writer's Workspace.


And I thought I would share these links that inspired me with you:

However, as I came to blogger, I saw that I have a whole bunch of comments to catch up with . . . wow! Thank you all for stopping by! I will try to catch up today and tomorrow. :)

Ubuntu Blog Hop, #Write Motivation, and Celebrate the Small Things

Michelle Wallace is celebrating her 3rd Blogaversy with the Ubuntu Bloghop!!!

What is ubuntu? "In Africa, there is a concept known as UBUNTU – the profound sense that we are human only through the humanity of others; that if we are to accomplish anything in this world, it will in equal measure be due to the work and achievement of others." – Nelson Mandela.

Michelle, in her wisdom and generosity, gave us a number of ways to take part in this wonderful blog hop.

Since I've been on "random" this year, I'm going to just put some random thoughts out there.

Have you ever noticed a boost in creativity when you are surrounded by other creative and busy people?

The blogsphere is filled with writers, teachers, filmmakers, indie and small press publishers, musicians, and all around creators. It's amazing. It's life-giving. It's inspiring.

I've noticed that when I give, I receive double-fold.
When I teach teens about writing, I gain new knowledge and perspective.
When I host a writer's workshop, my own writing is rejuvenated.
When I help my daughters with their dance, writing, and acting, I feel inspired.
When I help my husband with his video projects, I find myself amazed and thankful for this wonderful partner that God has given me.
When a friend asks me to proofread their novel, I become immersed in words in a new rhythm and a new way that helps me in the pacing of my own writing.
When I visit your blogs, I'm inspired, amazed, given new life and new knowledge.
When I read your books, I'm drawn into new worlds and inspired to create.
When I hear your music playlists, I'm inspired to dance, sing, daydream, and envision new places. 

I just realized that all may sound "braggy," because there's a lot of "I" in there. However, what I'm trying to say is that "I" am only at my best when I'm in the midst of others who create, and live life fully.

Thank you for being a part of my community, my Ubuntu.

And please visit Michelle and celebrate her blogaversary with her in Ubuntu!

#writemotivation and Celebrate the Small Things together (trying to post slightly shorter here)
I'm not going to list out my #writemotivation goals unless they fit in the Celebration this week. Next week, I'll give a full rundown.
1. Ubuntu!
2. A mention at Alex J. Cavanaugh's blog for my poetry book, Light Reflections, on Monday.
3. An interview with Nutschell at Wednesday Writer's Workspace!
4. A letter to the editor published in my local paper: World Needs a Variety of Grain Options
5. Two tiny stories written and submitted to Nail Polish stories.
6. 4 miles walking, 6 miles biking, yoga, lots of lunges, push-ups, sit-ups, etc.
7. Lots of snow in the mountains! (Unfortunately, my youngest severely sprained her wrist earlier this week so she and I stayed home from skiing).
8. Both of my daughters acted as "extras with lines" on a local web show set last weekend. The acting dream is still alive. :)
9. My oldest daughter choreographed a flash mob dance for a birthday party, and my husband produced the teaching video. (I am in the "second wave" back up dancers, and it made my dieting/health goals take on new purpose - nothing like seeing myself jiggling around on screen to do that - agh.)
10. Lots of great proofreading and content editing help came in and I revised chapters 1-14 of Champion in Flight again (mostly small things, with a half chapter change for chapter 1), and wrote a completely new chapter 14. Chapters 15-24 will hopefully not have as many problems.
11. Lots of prayers have been answered lately.
12. Meeting with my cover artist today! Looking forward to seeing the cover art for Champion in Flight.

Many thanks to all of you who are a part of my Ubuntu! And many thanks to Michelle and Viklit for hosting these wonderful hops!

Come Visit With Me!

I'm at the Writing Nut today for a Writer's Workspace interview!
Come Visit With Me!

Writing Nut

#writemotivation goals and Celebrate the Small Things

#writemotivation goals check-in:

1. Revise ten chapters of Champion in Flight. - Went back to the first chapter and fixed a huge problem that slowed me down in the revision of the last half of the book . . . chuckling with glee now. :)

2. Finish critique of friend's novel. - so close, but not yet. Finished the critique of a student's novella.

3. Bike 80 miles by the end of the month. - um, no progress. Sick with sinus/ear yuck, finally better.

4. Complete Write 1 Sub 1 challenge. - um, yikes! haven't subbed. However, I did get another big writing project done.

5. Drink 4+ glasses of water each day. - On the sick days, I went over this, but yesterday . . . no.

6. Jump in some puddles. - had the opportunity two days ago, but didn't take it. :(

7. Ski, laugh, and have fun with journal writing. - yes (today not last Friday), laugh (every day), and journaling (off and on)

Celebrate the Small Things with Viklit:
1. New snow in the mountains, Valentine's Day ski date (with family, snowboard and ski students, and lots of snow enthusiasts - but we can share the love, right?)
2. One chapter progress on writing book, huge problem solved in Champion in Flight revision, choice of title for third Champion book. (tbr another day)
3. And this . . .

Light Reflections is a collage of everyday poetry, reflecting on life moments. Light-hearted poems on the taste of pulpy lemonade and the pleasures of reading a library book mix with more serious subjects including faith, loss, and compost. These poems walk through the seasons of the year, reflecting light off clouds, snow, rain, and water. as well as the inner spaces of thought. Previously published titles include: "March Snow Hare," "My Mother's Compost," "As the Leaves Fall," and "Breaking the Stillness."

Light Reflections at Lulu

Now, let's go blitz Viklit!!!