Resolutions and Goals

Did you make any resolutions or set any goals for yourself? This year I decided not to. What I did do is set up a new writing schedule, which includes some non-fiction too. January is over and how did I do?

Pretty damn good if I say so myself. The book I started at the beginning of the year is currently at 24K and will be completed and submitted next week.

I subbed another book and a series proposal to one publisher. In my non-fiction I subbed four short stories. I researched, wrote and subbed five queries. Overall I’d say 2013 is off to a great start.

I also decided 2013 is the year for me to reclaim my health and get back in shape. So, while I’m almost back to normal health, I’m taking the exercise slow. I’m walking a mile a few times a week. I have a surgery in March to help one of my health problems.

I’m taking the steps to find a new job and building a foundation to write full time.  

All in all this year is going to be a great year. I feel it.

How about you?

Happy New Year!

Okay, so for 2012 I decided I would spend more time at my desk and try to be more productive. I have one word for my progress/process – discombobulated. I’m finding it hard to get used to this new routine. I’m not really sure why either.

Honestly I should be sitting at my desk…I have a day job. They might get mad if I’m not doing it. But I’m not looking at my two work laptops. I’m concentrating on the desktop. I’ve decided to take a magazine writing class, which started yesterday. Although I’ve been doing this type of writing for years, I felt like I was in a rut. I needed to shake things up, so hopefully this will help.

I don’t like to make resolutions because I’m such a procrastinator that I know I’d fail. So I make a few goals and pray for the best. This year my only “true” goal is to complete the full length contemporary romance I’m writing in time for the RWA NEC Conference in April. I’ve scheduled two agent appointments and would like to pitch this book. And hey, if they don’t want it there’s always self-publishing.  I watch my friends in amazement at how much money they’re making and how many books they’re selling.

I have to say since self-publishing my two Christmas stories I’ve sold more in the 3 weeks than I did in the 3 years they were at Aspen Mountain. Well, what I was told I sold. Something tells me I sold more.

So please bear with me as I adjust to my new routine. I also want to promote more. I’m hoping to get my newsletter up and running by the 15^th. I’ll be giving away a ton of swag to those interested.

Did you make any resolutions or goals for 2012? Please share them with us!

Goals

Normally I set goals for the New Year, not this year. Last year I wanted to belong to the book-a-month club. I did. Not so much writing a book a month, but I had a new release at least once a month. Some months saw two and one month saw three.
I felt like I was pressuring myself to reach unattainable goals. Obviously they weren’t unreachable because I did it. I just didn’t like the stress that came along with it. I was also writing through grief. For almost six months I buried myself in my writing, but guess what? As my heart started to heal I lost the writing frenzy, almost to the point I couldn’t write anything.
This year I’ve decided not to set any goals, but things I’d like to happen. I’d like to see a novel length book published in 2011. I’d like to land an agent or into a larger publishing house, but they’re not the end all be all. I’d like to see more of my non-fiction articles get published. Last year I put that on hold because I was writing so much fiction.
I’ve scheduled two agent/editor appointments for 2011, so I’m headed in the right direction. This year will be about writing growth, personal growth. If none of these things happen I won’t stress myself, because I’ll know I gave it my all at the time.
Happy New Year!
See ya next year.

New Year's Day

New Year’s Day is one of my favorite days of the year. Absolutely nothing happens at my house and I love the sense of peace. New Year’s Day feels like a clean slate. If my goals from the previous year were not achieved-who cares? I revise my goals. I always make some modest goals that can be implemented by February and at least set in motion.

January is my favorite time of year to do something new and beneficial to my health and my family’s health. I try to add something to my regime that makes me feel like I’m adding to the quality of life. This is a great time to learn and try healthier recipes, get more sleep or get out doors more often with my family for some natural light.

It’s also time to let go of things. If its not beautiful, useful or necessary-I ask myself should it go to someone else? This goes double for my closet.

My resolutions for this year are:

Enjoy more movies and get out to more live concerts.

Spend more time being silly and stupid. This is one goal I can easily achieve! Lol

Let people talk but not get caught in their drama. I’ll just enjoy the human drama and be a sounding board.

Be a bit more loving toward people who are hard to love-this goal is abstract because it applies to some folks I’ve never actually met.

Whenever possible give someone else a little encouragement or hope.

Happy New Year everyone! May 2010 be a wonderful year for all of us.

XXOO Kat