Holding Myself Accountable For My 2010 Resolutions

I'm all about setting goals. I really believe that the ideas of intention and putting something out into the universe are powerful ones. So at the beginning of each year I try to set goals--some practical some stretch goals. And part of that process means that at the end of the year, you have to look back and see if you did it or not. So in the spirit of accountability, here's my post from the beginning of the year with updates on my successes and epic failures. :)

My Mostly Realistic Writing Goals

I will write 1000 words/day five days a week when I am in the rough draft phase and edit at least 10 pages a day when in editing phase.

Update: I wrote a lot, but I did not stick to this. Just like with Nano (also a fail), my muse is fussy. But I am getting better, thanks to Nano, at putting my butt in the chair anyway and trying. 

I will continue to blog five days a week as long as you guys don't up and bail on me.  :)

Update: I did this until I got an agent, then moved to three days a week. I don't see this as a fail. I'm still happy that I've stuck to a schedule and hopefully provided some decent posts over the year. :) 

I will complete and edit one category length novel and will at least write a rough draft of a full length.

Update: I ended up tackling the full length first because that's where my muse led me. So I completed, revised and submitted a 90k novel. And am 30k into a rough draft of a new one.  

My Reading Goal

I have joined the 100+ Reading Challenge.  I think I'm around the 85 mark for this year now, so I don't think is totally out there.

Update: Pfft! Epic fail. Last year I read 79 books, this year I'm sitting at 37. Kidlet gave up naps and this put a serious cramp in my schedule. But I also spent more of my reading time, writing instead. So not a total loss. :)

My Personal Goals

Eat healthier and buy organic and local when I can afford it 

Update: Did well for first half of the year, then slid off the wagon. As of last week, I'm back on Weight Watchers and planning to do better this coming year. 

Do some form of exercise that involves more than fingers flying over keys and chasing my two year old when he gets a hold of the toilet paper roll..  I just ordered a Wii Fit, so I'm hoping that actually is exercise and not just an excuse to play video games.  If anyone has one, let me know what you think.

Update: Ha! The Wii Fit has not moved in months. The Wii gets a lot of use...but only for Guitar Hero and Rock Band. (At least it relieves stress! Which is sort of a health benefit, right? o.0  Okay, okay, I'll try to do better.) 

I will not let every towel in the house get dirty before I do a load of laundry.

Update: I actually did get better at this, though not 100%.  

Potty-train my son (fun times ahead)

Update: Epic fail as well. We're still working on this. Slow-going. 

My Oprah-style, Positive Thinking, Vision Board, Putting the Universe on Notice Goals

I will figure out a way to attend the National Romance Writers of America conference in Nashville.

Update: Win! Although it turned out to be in Orlando and not Nashville. But it was amazing and so worth it and I can't wait to go to NYC this summer for the next one.

I will sell Wanderlust to a publisher.

Update: Undetermined. Harlequin is still considering my book. I hope to know something in the next month or two. :) *fingers crossed* 

****

And now the totally epic, unexpected, not-listed-because-I-didn't-think-it-was-possible-this-year long-term goals that got accomplished:

1. Won multiple writing contests!

2. Landed dream agent Sara Megibow!!

3. SOLD TWO BOOKS to Berkley Heat!!!

And so, in conclusion, I DON'T CARE that I didn't meet some of the ones above. :D These last two developments totally trump it all! And proves that it's okay to do stretch goals, to dream big. No, I didn't reach every single one, but look what happened while I was striving to get there. :)

So what goals did you reach this year? Any unexpected ones that surprised you? Which ones are you still going to work on next year? What new goals are you setting for 2011? Go ahead, be bold, put it out there!

**Today's Theme Song**

"Hey Man, Nice Shot" - Filter

(player in sidebar, take a listen)

WIP Wednesday: Submissions, Crit Groups, and Nashville

I received an update on my submission to Harlequin this week, so I thought this would be a perfect time for a WIP Wednesday.  I haven't done one in a long while and there are a number of things that could stand for a little update love.  So here we go...


My Wanderlust Submission


I queried Harlequin Blaze eight months ago.  Three months later they requested my full and told me to expect a 3-5 month wait on turnaround.  I will hit the five month mark in a about a week.  So, when I won the Great Expectations contest (and got a recommendation from the Harlequin editor who judged the contest), I sent a follow-up letter (Harlequin does everything by snail mail) and settled in to wait again.


This week I received the terrifying soul-sucking bane of my existence self-addressed stamped envelope.  My husband handed it to me with that look - like he was preparing his I-love-you-and-you're-awesome-no-matter-what-some-editor-says speech.  So, I tore open the letter and--thank the heavens--it was only an update.  *phew*  The editor congratulated me on the contest win and assured me that I'm on top of her to be read pile.  So, I need all  of you to send positive thoughts in Canada's direction (where their offices are) that the read goes well.


My Critique Group


After feeling like a literary agent for a week, reading through all the contest entries, we have chosen not one but two new members for our group!  The amount of talented people who applied to the contest was awesome, so it was not an easy decision.  But I am excited to welcome Suzanne and Katrina to our little group!


The Beta Club


I'm on the fence about whether or not I should continue the Tues/Thur Beta Club feature here on the blog.  Comments have been dropping off and yesterday the number of comments was downright dismal.  And that was not due to the entry--which was a delight to read.  I know putting yourself up for public critique is difficult enough, but it's even harder when you put yourself out there and then you get no comments.  So I don't want to put authors through that if they are not getting a decent payoff from it.  And I don't want this to just be about me giving someone a critique.  The variety of opinions is what makes the feature so helpful to authors.  So if everyone is tiring of the feature, that's fine.  We'll move on.  If not, then let me know that too.  (Either way, if you have already submitted to the Beta Club, you will get a crit from me.  If I do decide to discontinue the feature, I will just send the crit to you privately.)


My Current WIPs


I'm 41k into my erotic romance.  I still think I'm a little nuts to do this dual timeline thing, but I feel like it's what the story needs, so I'm striding on in my insanity.  I'm not sure how long this one is going to be, but at 40k, I figure I'm at least halfway through.  So yay for that.


My contemporary romance WIP is at 18k and I'm starting it with my crit group.  I'm hoping to get the other WIP fully drafted before diving headlong back into this one.  As I discussed on Monday, drafting two at once is a major challenge for my one-track mind.


RWA Nationals


As many of you know, I recently signed up to attend RWA Nationals in Nashville, which I was very excited about.  Unfortunately, the city of Nashville have suffered a devastating flood--which has also ruined the Gaylord Opryland hotel, where our conference was going to be held.  So, right now, things are up in the air.  RWA is looking to move it somewhere else if they can.  But they book these things ten years in advance and it's a big convention, so not an easy task.  Hopefully they don't cancel it altogether.  But more importantly, I hope you will all keep the people of Nashville in your thoughts.  Having grown up in New Orleans, I know how horrible flooding can be, so I hope the city can get on its feet soon.  And speaking of New Orleans, please send positive thoughts to the Gulf Coast as well with that terrible oil spill.


Alright, I think that's all the updates!  Sorry for the mishmash, but I wanted to make sure I hit all these topics.  


So, how is your WIP going?  Do you have any submissions out there that you're waiting on?  What's your feeling about the Beta Club--nix it or keep going?

**Today's Theme Song**

"Everything" - Buckcherry

(player in sidebar, take a listen)

Accountability Check In and Bon Voyage

Alright so, as many of you know, I have signed up for both the 1000 word a day challenge and the 100+  reading challenge.  So far, it's going...okay.  On the reading challenge, I have finished five books.  Not so bad for three weeks into the year.  Of course, two of them were Harlequins which are shorter than most full length novels, but that's alright.

The writing challenge has been a bit more daunting.  I would say I'm hitting that 1000 words a day about 3-4 days a week.  I'm at about 6000 words on the new version of my WIP after scrapping the first 20k recently.  But so far, I'm liking these words a lot better, so I'm happy about the progress.

Although yesterday I barely got any writing done because my nose was stuck in Nicholas: The Lords of Satyr by Elizabeth Amber (an erotic paranormal historical romance--say that three times fast) and I didn't want to put it down.  (I'm not going to do a full review, but for the record, I really enjoyed the book.  Just be warned, it's not for the faint of heart.  If' you've never read erotic romance, you may want to start with something a little more warm and fuzzy like Maya Banks' Sweet Surrender, then work up to something like this, lol.  I'm not easily shocked and this book definitely made me raise my eyebrows.  And covers like this make me glad I own a Kindle.  I was reading this in the dentist's waiting room, lol.)

Alright, so moving on.  Next week I am semi-unplugging because I am going on a cruise, woo-hoo!  I'll be suffering greatly, forced to endure sun and Caribbean with my wonderful hubby.  Don't you feel sorry for me?  This will be the first vacation we've taken alone since becoming parents over two years ago.  I have never even spent a night away from my son, so I'm not sure what to think of actually getting a full night's sleep with no baby monitor in my ear.  I'm also bite my nails anxious about leaving him for the first time, but I'll know he'll be in good hands with his grandparents.

I will be bringing my laptop on the trip because I may shrivel up and die without it I'm hoping to get some writing done and to work on the crits for the winners of my contest in my down time.  But internet access will probably not be easily had.  Therefore, next week my posts will be short questions for you guys.  I want to know more about you and get your opinions on some things.  So be sure and stop by.  I'll be looking forward to reading your comments as soon as I get back.

Hope everyone has a great weekend and week!

Now, how are your writing and reading goals going so far this year?  Have any books totally distracted you from your writing?  Any advice for me on how to handle my first vacation away from my son?
 
 
 
 
 
 

**Today's Theme Song**

"Come Sail Away" - Styx 

(although I was totally tempted to put Cartman from Southpark's version)

-player in sidebar, take a listen-