Happy Friday everyone!!! I’ve been slacking here at the old blog this past week, mostly because I’ve been super busy. Between new releases, promotion, my personal life and NaNo, I’ve been run off my feet.
Speaking of NaNo….
Archive for the 'Goals' Category
Whenever I sit down to do up my New Year’s resolutions, I always feel a bit silly. I’m normally a pretty goal oriented person to begin with, so doing up special goals for the whole year don’t always have the impact on me that they probably should. That said, the year I put down “I will get published” on my list I actually did. So I’ll keep doing it just to keep the positive vibes going.
So sit down and brace yourself, kind readers. Here are Christine’s Goals for 2011!
The Goal List
Blog More. Yeah, yeah, I know, blogging is sooooo 2010ish. I didn’t get a chance to do a lot of blogging last year due to health and laziness issues. I don’t want to necessarily focus on writing as much as I have (thought that will be a big chunk still), but throw in some more interested bits for you to read. Don’t have a CLUE what they are yet, but I’ll figure it out.
Get an Agent. Yeah, yeah, I know, getting an agent is soooooo 1990ish. I also know this is something out of my control to a certain extent. But what I’m more interested in doing from my own perspective is not rushing my submissions to agents. I’m taking a look at the material I’m writing and how I can make it more marketable to a larger readership. Those are the projects I need to start pitching to agents and only to agents who I’ve done enough research on. Starting with the book I’m editing right now. 
Be Forgiving. I like to think I’m a nice person, but I have a bit of a mean streak in me. Thankfully, most of the time this is directed at myself and not others. In 2011, I’m vowing to give myself a bit of a break. Not from accomplishing the goals I want, but when I don’t quite live up to my own expectations. This will be a hard goal for me to meet.
Write, write, write! Goes without saying, doesn’t it? But my writing goals for the year are as follows.
- Finish the full length novel, No Master (EC)
- Finish the full length novel, No Honor (EC)
- Write two novellas (EC, other)
- Finish the full length novel I’m writing with Delphine Dryden (lord knows where that will end up. )
- Edit and submit urban fantasy novel (Carina, I hope…)
Promote. I suck at this. I need to do a better job at getting out there and getting my name known. This is the one aspect of publishing that I’ve always struggled with (mum raised me not to brag), and I know I need to do better.
Exercise. Yeah, yeah, I know, this is so…well, insert any year you want. One of the things I realized in 2010 was that I think better when I’m consistently exercising. So my vow is to do this not only for my physical health, but for my mental health as well. A less mental Christine means more writing accomplished. Lord did I just write that…
Well I think that’s good enough for now. I like to keep busy and this will certainly do that for me. I hope you all meet any goals you set for yourself in 2011!
*does a snoopy dance*
So far, the start of 2010 has been a bit rough. Nothing I can’t handle to be sure, but I’ll be happy when things settle. What it has done for me, is giving me the opportunity to think about what I want to accomplish this year on the writing front.
I normally set goals for myself in January, rather than do resolution thing. I don’t know why, but resolutions don’t pack the same punch for me. As I’ve been sitting on my couch, I’ve come up with a small list of things I’d like to get done this year with my writing.
Get an agent. I know this is like putting get published on your goal list, totally out of my control. However, I did put get published on my list one year and it actually happened. There’s more to it than simply wanting an agent. It means I have to ensure the manuscript I want to shop is ready (lots of editing work). I need to do my research on agents who I feel would not only be a great fit for my work, but someone I could work with on a business level. It also means I have to suck it up and actually query people. I did this for a bit last year, then chickened out. I have to change my mindset if I’m going to get an agent.
Write three novels. Anyone who knows me and my word count output shouldn’t be too surprised by this one. I can do it. However, I do want to change things up a bit. Two of them will be erotic romance novels, but I want the third to be another urban fantasy. Most likely it will be a follow up to the UF I just finished. I love that particular world and want to play some more there. So, it looks like I’m going to be busy.
Do more promotion. I’ve fallen off the PR wagon a little bit. Last year was very busy on a number of different fronts, and I had to drop a few of the extras I normally did. That included my newsletter and chats. This year, I’m planning on bringing my newsletter back and do a few more extras. Keep your eyes open. 
And if you don’t know by now, I’m crazy active on Twitter. You can all follow me there as Christine_dAbo.
Find a snoopy t-shirt that fits me. Seriously! Everyone I’ve ever come across is for kids or women with no boobs. And mine aren’t that big! I’ve bought two and have given each of them to my ten year old. I need this one people or I can’t in good consciousness say 2010 was a success. (EDIT: Yes, I did mean t-shirt. I guess that explains how I’m feeling right now LOL! Thanks Leah.)
That’s it! It may only be four goals, but they are big ones (especially snoopy). Do I think I can accomplish them? Of course! We’ll just have to see if the rest of the universe agrees with my plan.
Happy 2010 to everyone out there.
So maybe I need to post more blogs becasue yesterday, I was seriously motivated. I managed to get my read through done for my submission. Cut quite a bit, tightened some more and even got it off to my fantastic critique partners. I got through a contest entry (mostly) before I fell asleep at my keyboard.A very productive night.
I got stuff done! *does a snoopy dance
Today, I managed to get about a 1000 words written on my WIP before heading out to work. It was early morning, so I may have to tweak when I get to read it over tonight. Still, forward motion is positive. I also have a plan for another story that is half done.Been turning that puppy over in my mind all day.
I think what I need to do is make myself a bit of a project plan. What I want to work on and when I hope to have it finished by. I’m a task list kind of girl, so having things to check off makes me happy. I’ll give that a think.
The good news is that the writing is finally happening again. The editing is going well. I should have a release date for The Bond That Saves Us soon. You can pre-order All Bottled Up on both Amazon and Chapters websites (I giggled when I saw that last one), and I’ll have at least one more print book out by October.
I am a happy author today.
The weather is finally starting to turn nice where I am…I hope. The rain has been a bit crazy over the past few weeks making it not feel like summer. This weekend it was beautiful though, and I even managed to get out for a few walks with my dog. Jack and I have a nice route and I get to listen to lots of music as I go.
These walks have been very good for me. I’d been having difficulty focusing on my writing recently – not because I don’t want to write, but I’ve been putting other things ahead of it. Important things like family and friends, but still…
As I’ve been trotting around the neighborhood, my mind has started rolling over the three stories I have on the go at the moment. I’ve been spinning my wheels on all of them, not making any headway. Starting today, I’m going to change that.
I’m starting with the smallest of the stories (and the one that is 95% ready to go), and this week plan to clean it up and send it off for submission by Friday. I’m telling you here simply as public motivation…and if I don’t actually do it, you all have permission to kick my ass (Amy and a few others are actually close enough to me to physically do it to!).
So, goal for this week – Clean up story and submit it to Spice Briefs.
I’ll keep you all posted on how I’m making out.
I’m the first to admit, I’m not the most organized person in the world. I’m more of a whirlwind that sweeps in, gets as much done as possible, then sweeps out. I’ve been like that since I was a kid. Not saying I can’t meet a deadline, because I nail those suckers. Just means that I might terrify my family as I do it.
Recently, I’ve been finding it increasingly challenging to fit everything that I want to do in with everything that I need to do. Family and job usually come first, followed by writing. This has been increasing my frustration levels, as I really want to make my writing more of a priority. Thankfully, my husband is a wise man who has learned how to help me prioritize over the years.
Starting this week, I’ll be setting myself a writing/editing schedule, where I will actually leave my house, go to Starbucks and work. No Internet (I’m a junkie), no distractions (I will procrastinate), and most of all…lots of coffee.
I did this yesterday and managed to get through eighteen pages of editing in an hour and a half. So, I’m feeling good about this new plan and think it’s just what I needed to get through the edits of my current manuscript.
Wish me luck!
So on the writing front I’ve been pretty slack this summer. I think I really needed the break to try and fill the creative well. But I’m not going to let myself slack any longer!
I need goals…
So, getting back into the habit that worked so well for me in the past, I’m going to post my goals for the week. In fact, I’m going to reinstate…KICK IN THE PANTS!
The month of September is going to be designed to give me a boot to the rear and get me focused. Here is what I’m planning this week:
- Edits to Heaven’s Sight (first three chapters)
- Pick which story to work on, either Heaven’s Fire or The Bond That Saves Us
- Write at least 5000 words on that story
That should be enough to get me going.
What are your plans for the weekend?
You know, sometimes things just click.
Yesterday, I got back on track with my writing. I setup my writing goal log again (yes, I have OCD, but it keeps me writing) and managed to finally make some progress on something that is other than fanfiction.
The Bond That Saves Us is officially underway!
I’m also getting back on track with my exercise routine. Both myself and my husband have bought a membership to the local gym and I’m going to start going at lunch. That way I might actually feel more productive when I’m trying to write at night, keeping my energy levels up.
Plus, I might actually start to look like my old self again.
We had a wonderful Canada Day with the girls yesterday. Of course I got too much sun and I’m a bit dopey today, but that’s nothing new. I’m feeling good after having been out in the nice sunshine yesterday.
I hope everyone is having a good mid week!!
I hope everyone had a fantastic weekend. I know I did…even if my hubby has been away and I miss him. Yes, I know…I’m sad, but I’ve grown rather attached to the fella.
I’ve been doing a lot of writing and reading recently, but not making a lot of progress on my books. I’ve been lax on my goals and what I hope to accomplish. Basically, I’ve been slacking off. So it’s time to give myself a kick in the ass to get myself going again. With the RWA Nationals coming up, I want to make sure I have stuff ready to go.
Okay, so goals for the summer…
I have two main things I want to accomplish:
1. Finish book for in the Eternal Bond series – The Bond That Saves Us
2. Start (and hopefully finish) book two in my urban paranormal series.
If I can get those two things done by September 1st, I’ll be a very happy camper. So I have to start making myself do regular writing on both of these stories. And despite thinking I don’t have time to do it this week, I need to.
Goal for this week – write 5000 words on The Bond That Saves Us
And what was that announcement….?
Well, some of the details are still being worked out, but I’m thrilled to announce that I’ve been asked to write a serialized science fiction / fantasy story for a new magazine! Currently they are scheduled to launch the magazine, called Massive Gamer, this summer at Comic Con in San Diego. There is a chance that I’ll be going to be part of the launch (handing out stuff and the like), but I’m not sure yet.
My story is called Fractured Planes, and deals with three planet/time/universe hopping people, who get pulled together to help save the day. Each “story” will be about six issues in length, making two complete stories a year. I’ll be publishing under my other pen name, Christine Rafe. I’ll keep you posted on the details.
Oh I had a lovely day yesterday! Not only did I do my taxes (and am getting a refund YEAH!!), but I got my manicure, pedicure and went to a BBQ. I didn’t think about work or writing and was able to relax. I toped the whole evening off by enjoying the new Doctor Who episode. All in all, a fantastic Saturday.
Today, I’m pumped! I’m ready to get some writing done…but I do have some chores that need to be finished first. Bathrooms to be cleaned…clothing to be washed…
*sigh*
Regardless, I’m going to jump into my story here shortly and I’m hoping to finish the chapter that I’m working on.
I hope everyone who went to RT had a fantastic time. I’m going to plan to go next year rather than Nationals. I can only afford one conference like this a year (if that) and need to make sure I get to do the rounds.
I didn’t make my writing goal of 5000 words this week, but I did okay coming in at 3,525. I’m going to aim for 5k again this week and see if I can get closer.
How is everyone making out? What are your goals for the week?
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