Showing posts with label goals. Show all posts
Showing posts with label goals. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 2, 2019
Goals 2019
Reading
- 25 books overall
- 2 from Wheel of Time series
- 10 nonfiction
Powerlifting/Lifting
- compete in 2 meets
- deadlift 315+
- squat 230+
- bench 135+
- push press 100+
- snatch/clean 85+
Other Fitness
- run half marathon
- try other activities/classes
Writing/Editing
- rewrite/edit 3 novels
- finish 3 first drafts
- only start 2 new novels
- write 6 short stories
- submit to agents/publishers on 2 novels
- submit 2 short stories a month
- enter writers of future contest
- blog and post on youtube 3 times a month
Other Goals
- use some PTO
- do courses to maintain tech certification
- go out once a month
- perform as a drag king
Monday, January 29, 2018
Goals/Focus for 2018
I have goals, which are things I want to focus on at least early on within the year, so will post here too as part of the goal is to remember to keep putting up posts here. I like to make goals for the year and break it down to each month. We'll start for now with the wanted focus for 2018.
Fitness
Deadlift - 315
Squat - 230, then... 250
Bench - BW and 135, not sure which will come first
Push Press, Clean&Jerk, Snatch - 100+
Run a Half-Marathon
Weigh - 120 (first get to 132 weight class, then worry about the rest)
Reading/Writing
Read 18 books
- 3 from Wheel of Time
- 2 nonfiction
Rewrite/Edit Novels
- Boys Read Romance
- North West
- Aeon Fading
Submit to Agents
- BRR
- NW
World Build
- Aeon Fading, Xan, other books in series
- Tattle Tell, Standing Ground, Rogues of Revolution series.
Finish First Draft
- Snow
- List 13
- Under Paper Stars
- In the Horizon He Saw Rain
Youtube/Blog
Make progress on both and post at least once a month. Portion some of the time each week to work on this along with writing, reading and exercise.
Fitness
Deadlift - 315
Squat - 230, then... 250
Bench - BW and 135, not sure which will come first
Push Press, Clean&Jerk, Snatch - 100+
Run a Half-Marathon
Weigh - 120 (first get to 132 weight class, then worry about the rest)
Reading/Writing
Read 18 books
- 3 from Wheel of Time
- 2 nonfiction
Rewrite/Edit Novels
- Boys Read Romance
- North West
- Aeon Fading
Submit to Agents
- BRR
- NW
World Build
- Aeon Fading, Xan, other books in series
- Tattle Tell, Standing Ground, Rogues of Revolution series.
Finish First Draft
- Snow
- List 13
- Under Paper Stars
- In the Horizon He Saw Rain
Youtube/Blog
Make progress on both and post at least once a month. Portion some of the time each week to work on this along with writing, reading and exercise.
Saturday, June 3, 2017
End Result for List 13
June 1 marked the end of my attempt at the List 13 challenge and had some mixed results overall. I didn't accomplish 13 things but had some success along the way.
List 13
1. 13 week cut (end goal weight 124)
2. 10 week weight training peak cycle
3. Study for PTCE (I also passed the PTCE)
4. Read 1-2 books
5. Write first draft for List 13 (I managed 13,000 words)
6. Get hair cut much shorter/change hair
7. Create new intro for youtube channel
8. Find location to run outside safely (Looked online but haven't gone to any)
9. Make 3 items pinned on pinterest
10. Sew one item
11. buy swimsuit but.... Did get new clothes that I needed
12. adult stuff that needs done - did an HIV test so that's pretty adult right there
13. new tattoo
14. paint on one canvas
15. go bowling or something (went to burlesque show)
I didn't buy a swimsuit but I did get clothing I needed and a pair of shoes when parents were in town, so that's sufficient. Swimsuit will be part of next cut, near the end as vacation requires one. Can't afford 13 and didn't go bowling or to movie but did go out with roommate mid-cut to a burlesque show. I'm counting HIV test as doing something cause I used to volunteer and a place let our group use their building that did the testing and I never got it done. It was always on my list of should one day just because list and I got to do it on the clock at work. So, managed about half of the 13 crossed off-ish.
And the video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znuGgPnxnDA
List 13
1. 13 week cut (end goal weight 124)
2. 10 week weight training peak cycle
3. Study for PTCE (I also passed the PTCE)
4. Read 1-2 books
5. Write first draft for List 13 (I managed 13,000 words)
6. Get hair cut much shorter/change hair
7. Create new intro for youtube channel
8. Find location to run outside safely (Looked online but haven't gone to any)
9. Make 3 items pinned on pinterest
10. Sew one item
11. buy swimsuit but.... Did get new clothes that I needed
12. adult stuff that needs done - did an HIV test so that's pretty adult right there
13. new tattoo
14. paint on one canvas
15. go bowling or something (went to burlesque show)
I didn't buy a swimsuit but I did get clothing I needed and a pair of shoes when parents were in town, so that's sufficient. Swimsuit will be part of next cut, near the end as vacation requires one. Can't afford 13 and didn't go bowling or to movie but did go out with roommate mid-cut to a burlesque show. I'm counting HIV test as doing something cause I used to volunteer and a place let our group use their building that did the testing and I never got it done. It was always on my list of should one day just because list and I got to do it on the clock at work. So, managed about half of the 13 crossed off-ish.
And the video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znuGgPnxnDA
Wednesday, March 1, 2017
List 13 Challenge
I am getting ready for a 13 week self challenge and have decided within that amount of time I want to accomplish at least 13 things. I am also a fan of lists so having the 13 things and setting goals sounded like a good idea. Plus, I have a novel that is called list 13 that I would like to get a first draft one this year, thus picking the number 13 along with a few other reasons.
My goals vary with a couple relating to work, some being super easy tasks and others are more challenging and might need some revision over the time period. And I don't have all 13 figured out just yet.
The thirteen week challenge is also a good number of weeks for the particular time of year. I say this because starting from March 1st means the end date is May 31. Start of a month as the beginning and an end of a month as the finish line. And can consider it as a pre-summer challenge due to the timing as well.
First on the list is the 13 week cut. I took a break from the lower calorie eating since I'd been trying to lose weight for a couple of years and had stalled. It was good to take a break and maintain for a while. Now, I'm ready to eat in a deficit again to try and get to that "healthy" weight range for my height. I'm 132-136 depending on the day, so the goal of 124 is reasonable. I will admit that I still will be happy even if it's 127 but for now, the ideal is to get under 125 as that's the top for my very short height. During that, for weight lifting, I am going to do another peak cycle. The loss of everything on my computer when it decided to play the phoenix means I don't have the excel with the previous program. I have to try something new and I'm looking forward to that. If things go well even with eating in a deficit, I should hit some new personal bests on bench, squat and deadlift.
For work, I am studying to get certified and that requires passing an exam. There is a program through work that involves going to classes but that is once a week and there are only 5. The bulk of the studying is at home. Not sure how long I have after the classes end to take the test but I'm guessing it will be some time in the next 13 weeks. Very important goal.
Here is the list of goals I have so far, aka my "list 13" with some that may be amended or changed depending on how the weeks go.
1. 13 week cut (end goal weight 124)
2. 10 week weight training peak cycle
3. Study for PTCE
4. Read 1-2 books
5. Write first draft for List 13
6. Get hair cut much shorter
7. Create new intro for youtube channel
8. Find location to run outside safely
9. Make 3 items pinned on pinterest
10. Sew one item
What goals are you working on? Do you have a list?
My goals vary with a couple relating to work, some being super easy tasks and others are more challenging and might need some revision over the time period. And I don't have all 13 figured out just yet.
The thirteen week challenge is also a good number of weeks for the particular time of year. I say this because starting from March 1st means the end date is May 31. Start of a month as the beginning and an end of a month as the finish line. And can consider it as a pre-summer challenge due to the timing as well.
First on the list is the 13 week cut. I took a break from the lower calorie eating since I'd been trying to lose weight for a couple of years and had stalled. It was good to take a break and maintain for a while. Now, I'm ready to eat in a deficit again to try and get to that "healthy" weight range for my height. I'm 132-136 depending on the day, so the goal of 124 is reasonable. I will admit that I still will be happy even if it's 127 but for now, the ideal is to get under 125 as that's the top for my very short height. During that, for weight lifting, I am going to do another peak cycle. The loss of everything on my computer when it decided to play the phoenix means I don't have the excel with the previous program. I have to try something new and I'm looking forward to that. If things go well even with eating in a deficit, I should hit some new personal bests on bench, squat and deadlift.
For work, I am studying to get certified and that requires passing an exam. There is a program through work that involves going to classes but that is once a week and there are only 5. The bulk of the studying is at home. Not sure how long I have after the classes end to take the test but I'm guessing it will be some time in the next 13 weeks. Very important goal.
Here is the list of goals I have so far, aka my "list 13" with some that may be amended or changed depending on how the weeks go.
1. 13 week cut (end goal weight 124)
2. 10 week weight training peak cycle
3. Study for PTCE
4. Read 1-2 books
5. Write first draft for List 13
6. Get hair cut much shorter
7. Create new intro for youtube channel
8. Find location to run outside safely
9. Make 3 items pinned on pinterest
10. Sew one item
What goals are you working on? Do you have a list?
Wednesday, April 8, 2015
G is for Goals
Had a few options today but we'll go with something I post about on occasion and try to do at least once a month, along with other different time frames: goals. I am a big fan of making goals to work towards and it works for both topics. Check out the other G posts in the A to Z challenge.
Goals
They come in handy for many people and work for different areas in life. Whether it's a general until it gets accomplished goal, monthly or even year long, there are lots of options available. I tend to do many different types over the year in part because it helps give me focus and a deadline, which gives a better chance of something actually getting done.
Fiction
My goals for fiction tend to be based on what I would like to focus my attention on at the moment, which story/draft to try and get done sooner. Since I have so many projects started at any given time, it can be a challenge to make progress. Right now I have blog goals, editing goals and writing goals for April along with a couple longer writing goals and some general projects picked as the focus for 2015. The big goals are to edit the YA novel to submit by summer and writing in a couple different first draft projects.
Fitness
I also do goals for fitness and some of the groups I'm involved with on myfitnesspal involves posting goals for each month or a 12 week period. The goals don't all have to be lifting or fitness but that tends to be the main focus there. Goals can have many different time frames for fitness and can be task specific, weight number focused, or even more general. Right now I'm working on daily protein macros, couch to 5k training, following lifting program and eventually will be hoping to increase certain lifts.
For me, setting goals and often achieving them are a big part of making progress. It also helps to give me focus. While losing weight is important, what has really helped me is to have other goals more geared towards fitness to put effort towards achieving. The numbers are the scale are nice when they go down but it's even better that it's not my only focus. And that has really helped me so far on this journey. It's working so far, now I need to get my writing back in gear and these goals will be accomplished.
Do you have any goals? What types of goals do you make?
Goals
They come in handy for many people and work for different areas in life. Whether it's a general until it gets accomplished goal, monthly or even year long, there are lots of options available. I tend to do many different types over the year in part because it helps give me focus and a deadline, which gives a better chance of something actually getting done.
Fiction
My goals for fiction tend to be based on what I would like to focus my attention on at the moment, which story/draft to try and get done sooner. Since I have so many projects started at any given time, it can be a challenge to make progress. Right now I have blog goals, editing goals and writing goals for April along with a couple longer writing goals and some general projects picked as the focus for 2015. The big goals are to edit the YA novel to submit by summer and writing in a couple different first draft projects.
Fitness
I also do goals for fitness and some of the groups I'm involved with on myfitnesspal involves posting goals for each month or a 12 week period. The goals don't all have to be lifting or fitness but that tends to be the main focus there. Goals can have many different time frames for fitness and can be task specific, weight number focused, or even more general. Right now I'm working on daily protein macros, couch to 5k training, following lifting program and eventually will be hoping to increase certain lifts.
For me, setting goals and often achieving them are a big part of making progress. It also helps to give me focus. While losing weight is important, what has really helped me is to have other goals more geared towards fitness to put effort towards achieving. The numbers are the scale are nice when they go down but it's even better that it's not my only focus. And that has really helped me so far on this journey. It's working so far, now I need to get my writing back in gear and these goals will be accomplished.
Do you have any goals? What types of goals do you make?
Saturday, January 24, 2015
New Year Goals and Past Reflection
Wow am I late. So, yeah ummm... We're in 2015 and have been for a few weeks now. But I am going to post here and reflect on the end of 2014 and the goals I have for 2015 anyways.
2014 ended pretty well. Started walking in September and that quickly became an almost every day event. Then in the end of October, before the cold weather really set in, I joined a gym. Started lifting weights in November and I'm still doing that. Lifting weights 3 times a week(stronglifts program) at the gym and doing other stuff when I feel like it on the other days. I didn't go with PF but ended up at the 24 Hour Fitness location, which is better suited for my goals even as a beginner with lots of weight to lose. Though I might look to transition later as I would like to learn some of the olympic lifts that we don't have much room for at current location.
Here are some fitness goals that I posted in October 2014:
Run 5k (color run 2015)
Deadlift (learn how)
Kayak
Jump high enough to block (HS volleyball, could never do)
Take class on hand to hand combat
Lift heavy weights ;-) (will be more specific once I get to some weights)
I am signed up for 2 5k runs so far. Pride Glow Run in June up in Portland and a Bubble Run Portland in August, which is a type of color run. So, going to be reaching that goal in 2015 for sure and might even add one more in September if I can find one I want to do. I do know how to deadlift now and last night I lifted 190 lbs, which means that goal is achieved. I'm doing 145 squat, 85 bench and 65 overhead press so I'm starting to lift heavy weights (at least they are still heavy for me but also making progress to lift heavier). We'll count that one. Just need to try the kayak, work on jumping and find a combat class and those will all be done.
I've also steadily been losing weight. Though I have a no picture policy in place at the moment, on facebook in particular, I have a goal for November and might be posting actual pictures here on the blog then as well. Have a big family event to attend and want to surprise all of the family as I will have not seen them in almost a year and some since I weighed like 220. Back on October 26, when I posted a weight update, I was 194.2. I am now down to 175. It was faster at first but now I'm going steady at 4-5 lbs per month, which is a good rate since I still have a fair amount to lose. Lifting while eating at a deficit can be a challenge at times but it's manageable.
Now to move on and discuss what I want to do for the rest of this year. I have lots of goals, of course, and some are writing while others are fitness related. How much I get done will be seen in December because I've got a lot of writing to do and it's getting a little slow right now. Hope to pick things up in the next couple of months. February Editing Month maybe?
Goals for 2015
Submit novel to agents
Edit 3 novels
Finish 2 novels
Run three 5ks
Blog more often
Learn more lifts and try out a different lifting program or two (NROLFW perhaps)
Get to the Overweight range (currently still Obese) = lose 20+ lbs hopefully by November
More posts to come. I have writing topics to discuss, plus a few posts on lifting. I'm hoping to be less silent on here for the rest of 2015.
Big plans for this year? How is your fiction and fitness going?
2014 ended pretty well. Started walking in September and that quickly became an almost every day event. Then in the end of October, before the cold weather really set in, I joined a gym. Started lifting weights in November and I'm still doing that. Lifting weights 3 times a week(stronglifts program) at the gym and doing other stuff when I feel like it on the other days. I didn't go with PF but ended up at the 24 Hour Fitness location, which is better suited for my goals even as a beginner with lots of weight to lose. Though I might look to transition later as I would like to learn some of the olympic lifts that we don't have much room for at current location.
Here are some fitness goals that I posted in October 2014:
Run 5k (color run 2015)
Deadlift (learn how)
Kayak
Jump high enough to block (HS volleyball, could never do)
Take class on hand to hand combat
Lift heavy weights ;-) (will be more specific once I get to some weights)
I am signed up for 2 5k runs so far. Pride Glow Run in June up in Portland and a Bubble Run Portland in August, which is a type of color run. So, going to be reaching that goal in 2015 for sure and might even add one more in September if I can find one I want to do. I do know how to deadlift now and last night I lifted 190 lbs, which means that goal is achieved. I'm doing 145 squat, 85 bench and 65 overhead press so I'm starting to lift heavy weights (at least they are still heavy for me but also making progress to lift heavier). We'll count that one. Just need to try the kayak, work on jumping and find a combat class and those will all be done.
I've also steadily been losing weight. Though I have a no picture policy in place at the moment, on facebook in particular, I have a goal for November and might be posting actual pictures here on the blog then as well. Have a big family event to attend and want to surprise all of the family as I will have not seen them in almost a year and some since I weighed like 220. Back on October 26, when I posted a weight update, I was 194.2. I am now down to 175. It was faster at first but now I'm going steady at 4-5 lbs per month, which is a good rate since I still have a fair amount to lose. Lifting while eating at a deficit can be a challenge at times but it's manageable.
Now to move on and discuss what I want to do for the rest of this year. I have lots of goals, of course, and some are writing while others are fitness related. How much I get done will be seen in December because I've got a lot of writing to do and it's getting a little slow right now. Hope to pick things up in the next couple of months. February Editing Month maybe?
Goals for 2015
Submit novel to agents
Edit 3 novels
Finish 2 novels
Run three 5ks
Blog more often
Learn more lifts and try out a different lifting program or two (NROLFW perhaps)
Get to the Overweight range (currently still Obese) = lose 20+ lbs hopefully by November
More posts to come. I have writing topics to discuss, plus a few posts on lifting. I'm hoping to be less silent on here for the rest of 2015.
Big plans for this year? How is your fiction and fitness going?
Wednesday, October 1, 2014
Novel Progress
So much progress and yet so much more to go.
Since I am still a writer and the purpose of this blog from the very beginning has been the novels, I must talk about how I'm doing from time to time, though the fitness has been a slight distraction from writing. That and I'm more tired now, so I go to bed earlier instead of writing late. I'll get it worked out by NaNoWriMo though. ;-)
For the summer, my plan was to focus on 1 novel and get it done. Well, I got distracted. (Yes, I see the pattern.) I worked on submitting a few stories over the 3 months. Most have been rejected but I'm still sending things out. I try to get at least a couple stories out a month. Other than submitting, I've also written a few new short stories. Many of them were for contests over on Writing.com but we'll see what happens. One was an expansion of a free write I posted online in a forum and a reviewer already wants there to be more to the story.
I did work on the novel though. I wrote 37,000 words during Camp NaNo and a decent amount in June as well. August, however, I got barely anything done in the novel. I'm near the end where everything goes wrong, the climax of the story, just need to actually write it. I still can get it done by the end of the year but it didn't get done in summer. However, I did write a lot, so that was good.
Novel edit stalled. I won't be submitting the novel to agents in 2014, but I've come to terms with that recently. Instead, I'm going to work on that final edit, get some things fixed up and make the query letter the best I can. My goal is to submit the YA novel in 2015.
World building is also something that was added this fall. Since I've decided for NaNoWriMo 2014 to re-attempt the epic fantasy novel from 2010, I already had my usual prep challenge done. So, instead I am taking the plunge and working on world building. I have notebooks and will spend October focused on that. Working on the different societies, types of characters, magic system and much more. I've added some elements of technology as well, so the novel should be interesting. And I'm going to make myself work on description during November, so it's going to be a super long novel but that's okay. I want to work on using the senses and getting descriptions done, so over the top is fine because I know I can develop it and cut later.
Novel wise, my plan for the rest of the year is: finish LtW, world build, write 100k+ in nanowrimo, work on edits and query letter, and blog.
Are you going to do NaNoWriMo?
What are your current writing plans?
Since I am still a writer and the purpose of this blog from the very beginning has been the novels, I must talk about how I'm doing from time to time, though the fitness has been a slight distraction from writing. That and I'm more tired now, so I go to bed earlier instead of writing late. I'll get it worked out by NaNoWriMo though. ;-)
For the summer, my plan was to focus on 1 novel and get it done. Well, I got distracted. (Yes, I see the pattern.) I worked on submitting a few stories over the 3 months. Most have been rejected but I'm still sending things out. I try to get at least a couple stories out a month. Other than submitting, I've also written a few new short stories. Many of them were for contests over on Writing.com but we'll see what happens. One was an expansion of a free write I posted online in a forum and a reviewer already wants there to be more to the story.
I did work on the novel though. I wrote 37,000 words during Camp NaNo and a decent amount in June as well. August, however, I got barely anything done in the novel. I'm near the end where everything goes wrong, the climax of the story, just need to actually write it. I still can get it done by the end of the year but it didn't get done in summer. However, I did write a lot, so that was good.
Novel edit stalled. I won't be submitting the novel to agents in 2014, but I've come to terms with that recently. Instead, I'm going to work on that final edit, get some things fixed up and make the query letter the best I can. My goal is to submit the YA novel in 2015.
World building is also something that was added this fall. Since I've decided for NaNoWriMo 2014 to re-attempt the epic fantasy novel from 2010, I already had my usual prep challenge done. So, instead I am taking the plunge and working on world building. I have notebooks and will spend October focused on that. Working on the different societies, types of characters, magic system and much more. I've added some elements of technology as well, so the novel should be interesting. And I'm going to make myself work on description during November, so it's going to be a super long novel but that's okay. I want to work on using the senses and getting descriptions done, so over the top is fine because I know I can develop it and cut later.
Novel wise, my plan for the rest of the year is: finish LtW, world build, write 100k+ in nanowrimo, work on edits and query letter, and blog.
Are you going to do NaNoWriMo?
What are your current writing plans?
Friday, September 5, 2014
Goals for Fall and Beyond
My goals for now and all the way up to summer 2015.
Summer is over here. Yep, it's now September and so much has happened over the past few months, yet I forgot to blog a good part of the time. Oops. Anyways, here is a quick run down and then fall goals type of blog post for you to enjoy.
I turned 30 recently, which ended up being tame and not as stress inducing as I thought it might be. My mom came to visit, so we went to the beach on my birthday. It was a very nice day too, so we managed to get to the ocean after struggled attempts finding a place that would actually be easy to get to from the parking spot. Also saw a light house, got some nice ocean pictures, looked around little shops, got salt water taffy and ate fresh sea food by the ocean. Very nice day overall. Didn't panic or anything even though I'm not where I'd thought I'd be at 30, but I'm at a good point to make some changes and work towards my life goals.
On that end, I have many fall and winter projects to work on and need to get to busy to accomplish them.
Organize:
Apartment and belongings - My mess is mostly just unorganized stuff. So need to get it all organized and put in appropriate locations: paperwork, clothes, etc. Get rid of some, donate some and put in better spots for the rest. Would make cleaning easier too.
Pictures - Cat ones need scanned and combined onto cds. I also need to write on the backs of all the other pictures I have that are mine for when I can't remember who and such anymore.
Write:
Finish novel draft
Write a couple stories
Query letter
Edit:
TT needs the final edit done
Standing Ground needs started with the edit
Adult novels need rewrite or edits, but those will wait for other decisions
Blog:
Post in blogs
I have adsense on one so that needs content posted at least a few times a month. I need to write several posts in advance, have like a blog day or two a month, then schedule them so other days I can comment on people's blogs.
World Build:
Need to prepare for NaNoWriMo by world building Epic Fantasy.
Exercise:
Walk 2 miles once a week, starting out, and increase activity from there.
Health:
Watch calories consumed and track on myfitnesspal
Lose 10 lbs by NaNoWriMo (aka November) this is starting at 211, which was what I had on the myfitnesspal
I weigh 209 now. So, my basic goal is to get to 200 soon. My overall goal for summer 2015 is to lose 30 lbs, which would equate to weighing almost 180. It's not an ending point, but a good reach that I can visualize and from there and I can visualize the next steps. Maybe even some day a swim suit. We'll see. ;-)
November will, of course, be NaNoWriMo, so I'll write at least 100,000 words that month. But I've also got work and trying to make more money, along with crafts I want to do, painting and sewing, etc. So much to do this fall/winter.
What about you? Are you ready for Fall/Spring?
Summer is over here. Yep, it's now September and so much has happened over the past few months, yet I forgot to blog a good part of the time. Oops. Anyways, here is a quick run down and then fall goals type of blog post for you to enjoy.
I turned 30 recently, which ended up being tame and not as stress inducing as I thought it might be. My mom came to visit, so we went to the beach on my birthday. It was a very nice day too, so we managed to get to the ocean after struggled attempts finding a place that would actually be easy to get to from the parking spot. Also saw a light house, got some nice ocean pictures, looked around little shops, got salt water taffy and ate fresh sea food by the ocean. Very nice day overall. Didn't panic or anything even though I'm not where I'd thought I'd be at 30, but I'm at a good point to make some changes and work towards my life goals.
On that end, I have many fall and winter projects to work on and need to get to busy to accomplish them.
Organize:
Apartment and belongings - My mess is mostly just unorganized stuff. So need to get it all organized and put in appropriate locations: paperwork, clothes, etc. Get rid of some, donate some and put in better spots for the rest. Would make cleaning easier too.
Pictures - Cat ones need scanned and combined onto cds. I also need to write on the backs of all the other pictures I have that are mine for when I can't remember who and such anymore.
Write:
Finish novel draft
Write a couple stories
Query letter
Edit:
TT needs the final edit done
Standing Ground needs started with the edit
Adult novels need rewrite or edits, but those will wait for other decisions
Blog:
Post in blogs
I have adsense on one so that needs content posted at least a few times a month. I need to write several posts in advance, have like a blog day or two a month, then schedule them so other days I can comment on people's blogs.
World Build:
Need to prepare for NaNoWriMo by world building Epic Fantasy.
Exercise:
Walk 2 miles once a week, starting out, and increase activity from there.
Health:
Watch calories consumed and track on myfitnesspal
Lose 10 lbs by NaNoWriMo (aka November) this is starting at 211, which was what I had on the myfitnesspal
I weigh 209 now. So, my basic goal is to get to 200 soon. My overall goal for summer 2015 is to lose 30 lbs, which would equate to weighing almost 180. It's not an ending point, but a good reach that I can visualize and from there and I can visualize the next steps. Maybe even some day a swim suit. We'll see. ;-)
November will, of course, be NaNoWriMo, so I'll write at least 100,000 words that month. But I've also got work and trying to make more money, along with crafts I want to do, painting and sewing, etc. So much to do this fall/winter.
What about you? Are you ready for Fall/Spring?
Friday, June 13, 2014
Summer Plans
I haven't done a goal or update post for a little while. Since it's June and I'm doing a focus on novels for summer, it seems like a good time to do a post about my plans for the three months.
Since at the beginning of the year I focused on writing short stories, submitting and trying to write on a regular basis, I decided that summer was a good time to focus on novels. After summer there is enough of a break to rest a little before NaNoWriMo. Plus, I have plenty of novels that need work done. So, most of my writing and editing is going to novels for June, July and August.
Summer Novel Plans
Edit Tattle Tell (goal is to finish edits by August)
Finish writing Lighting the Wall (it's at 25k so far)
Finish writing Angel/Demon (it's at over 32k so far)
Write In the Horizon He Saw Rain (rewrite from short story version)
Write List 13 (rewrite from novelette version)
I haven’t forgotten about the health side. No worries. I only dropped about 3 lbs last month, going from 216 to 213. It's a hard range that I buoy in often, so still trying to get lower. Won't be anything special loss wise till I get down under 200. Either way, hoping to keep it going in that direction. I’m consuming more vegetables and fruit, which I think is helping. Then again, I’m going from barely eating maybe a serving or two a day or less to more so it’s easy to increase that amount. Also, cutting down on the buying of candy though I’m also practicing cake decorating and cupcake, so that is a new challenge.
Next, I need to up the physical activity. I do a lot of walking around, standing and even lift heavy things at work, but at home more sitting is involved. I have plenty of dvds and a little space in front of the small tv I never use. I just have to make sure I exercise at a time where stomping is okay cause I’m pretty sure if I start doing work out dvds, the people below me won’t appreciate if it’s at a sleep time. Either way, as I up the healthy foods, I can up the physical activity (or well, as I work on cakes I should up the exercise cause I don’t eat much of it, but I do taste a little and those calories count too).
So, that is my summer plans. Work, novel, eat healthier and exercise. Maybe I can get down to 205 by my birthday. The big 3-0 is approaching. I’ll bury my head in novels till it gets here.
Do you have summer plans?
What are your writing, reading, editing or health plans for June, July, August?
Since at the beginning of the year I focused on writing short stories, submitting and trying to write on a regular basis, I decided that summer was a good time to focus on novels. After summer there is enough of a break to rest a little before NaNoWriMo. Plus, I have plenty of novels that need work done. So, most of my writing and editing is going to novels for June, July and August.
Summer Novel Plans
Edit Tattle Tell (goal is to finish edits by August)
Finish writing Lighting the Wall (it's at 25k so far)
Finish writing Angel/Demon (it's at over 32k so far)
Write In the Horizon He Saw Rain (rewrite from short story version)
Write List 13 (rewrite from novelette version)
I haven’t forgotten about the health side. No worries. I only dropped about 3 lbs last month, going from 216 to 213. It's a hard range that I buoy in often, so still trying to get lower. Won't be anything special loss wise till I get down under 200. Either way, hoping to keep it going in that direction. I’m consuming more vegetables and fruit, which I think is helping. Then again, I’m going from barely eating maybe a serving or two a day or less to more so it’s easy to increase that amount. Also, cutting down on the buying of candy though I’m also practicing cake decorating and cupcake, so that is a new challenge.
Next, I need to up the physical activity. I do a lot of walking around, standing and even lift heavy things at work, but at home more sitting is involved. I have plenty of dvds and a little space in front of the small tv I never use. I just have to make sure I exercise at a time where stomping is okay cause I’m pretty sure if I start doing work out dvds, the people below me won’t appreciate if it’s at a sleep time. Either way, as I up the healthy foods, I can up the physical activity (or well, as I work on cakes I should up the exercise cause I don’t eat much of it, but I do taste a little and those calories count too).
So, that is my summer plans. Work, novel, eat healthier and exercise. Maybe I can get down to 205 by my birthday. The big 3-0 is approaching. I’ll bury my head in novels till it gets here.
Do you have summer plans?
What are your writing, reading, editing or health plans for June, July, August?
Tuesday, April 1, 2014
April and May
Here is to the rain that will bring the flowers. Also known as, goal updates, new goals, talks of April challenges and plans for spring for my life and writing. Fun times indeed.
April is many things. One is the A to Z blogfest challenge. The last two years I took part in the challenge using this blog, with the most recent (2013) being one where I was crazy and used both Fiction and Fitness (It's in the Book was the title then) along with my Dawn Embers blog. This year I went with a different kind of crazy. I am taking part in the challenge. Just not this blog or Dawn Embers. Even though I've been slacking on reading and don't have active co-bloggers at this time, I took the leap and put in Reading at Dawn. I found an awesome reader who is doing a good portion of the reviews, so it's not just me, and my sister has a couple days. It's crazy but I'm hoping it gives the book review blog a boost and I can push it forward from there. Check out the other blogs taking part (over 1700 of them) over at A to Z Challenge. And check out my posts at Reading at Dawn.
February and March were pretty busy. Here are my past goals and how I did on them:
February Goals
Submit 4 stories to publications. - I sent out 3 in February
Write chapter in AF. - Failed. I've still got a couple chapters left to write overall.
Finish reading HIVE - This one I did accomplish and there is a review posted on Reading at Dawn.
Post 5 blog entries overall. Managed but barely, over all the blogs.
Apply to one job a week. Ish. I was doing good in Feburary, since then not so much.
Batch cook on day off from work. Nope. Still working on planning and cooking.
March Goals
Edit TT. - Fail. Didn't edit at all with all the other things I had to do on WDC this month.
Finish reading 1 book. - I finished Ash on the very last day.
Keep submitting items if they get rejections. Stalled but then I sent out 7 stories on 1 day so I'm doing better again with this one.
Apply to one job a week. Fail. Got distracted.
Eat 3 servings of veggies a day - not quite but I'm slowly adding more veggies though I need to maybe try and eat more than 2 times a day.
Weight loss didn't happen lately but I haven't put much focus on it either. I haven't really gained either though, so that's good despite needing to buy less candy. I'm at 215 so need to make a goal for April and May to try and get down some as I start cooking and using more veggies.
April Goals
Edit 5 or more chapters in TT.
Read books and keep up with A to Z challenge.
Write 250+ words a day.
Submit 2 stories.
Start doing recipe changes by adding more vegetables.
Lose 3 lbs.
Post at least one post in my other blogs.
May Goals
Write 250+ words a day.
Edit chapters in TT. (amount pends how well April goes)
Start rewriting query letter.
Send out 2 stories.
Get activity ready for summer novel writing.
Post at least 4 blog posts overall.
I have been writing every single day. Some days it's only 250 words but other days it's 1000 or 2000. I'm at over 70,000 words written so far this month and even though I've never been the write every day type. I'm actually liking it and the challenge. Rest of my time is taken up by work but I keep going. And I sleep sometimes too.
But I'm ready for April and May. Always more to do.
How are you?
Did February go well?
What are your goals for April or May?
April is many things. One is the A to Z blogfest challenge. The last two years I took part in the challenge using this blog, with the most recent (2013) being one where I was crazy and used both Fiction and Fitness (It's in the Book was the title then) along with my Dawn Embers blog. This year I went with a different kind of crazy. I am taking part in the challenge. Just not this blog or Dawn Embers. Even though I've been slacking on reading and don't have active co-bloggers at this time, I took the leap and put in Reading at Dawn. I found an awesome reader who is doing a good portion of the reviews, so it's not just me, and my sister has a couple days. It's crazy but I'm hoping it gives the book review blog a boost and I can push it forward from there. Check out the other blogs taking part (over 1700 of them) over at A to Z Challenge. And check out my posts at Reading at Dawn.
February and March were pretty busy. Here are my past goals and how I did on them:
February Goals
Submit 4 stories to publications. - I sent out 3 in February
Write chapter in AF. - Failed. I've still got a couple chapters left to write overall.
Finish reading HIVE - This one I did accomplish and there is a review posted on Reading at Dawn.
Post 5 blog entries overall. Managed but barely, over all the blogs.
Apply to one job a week. Ish. I was doing good in Feburary, since then not so much.
Batch cook on day off from work. Nope. Still working on planning and cooking.
March Goals
Edit TT. - Fail. Didn't edit at all with all the other things I had to do on WDC this month.
Finish reading 1 book. - I finished Ash on the very last day.
Keep submitting items if they get rejections. Stalled but then I sent out 7 stories on 1 day so I'm doing better again with this one.
Apply to one job a week. Fail. Got distracted.
Eat 3 servings of veggies a day - not quite but I'm slowly adding more veggies though I need to maybe try and eat more than 2 times a day.
Weight loss didn't happen lately but I haven't put much focus on it either. I haven't really gained either though, so that's good despite needing to buy less candy. I'm at 215 so need to make a goal for April and May to try and get down some as I start cooking and using more veggies.
April Goals
Edit 5 or more chapters in TT.
Read books and keep up with A to Z challenge.
Write 250+ words a day.
Submit 2 stories.
Start doing recipe changes by adding more vegetables.
Lose 3 lbs.
Post at least one post in my other blogs.
May Goals
Write 250+ words a day.
Edit chapters in TT. (amount pends how well April goes)
Start rewriting query letter.
Send out 2 stories.
Get activity ready for summer novel writing.
Post at least 4 blog posts overall.
I have been writing every single day. Some days it's only 250 words but other days it's 1000 or 2000. I'm at over 70,000 words written so far this month and even though I've never been the write every day type. I'm actually liking it and the challenge. Rest of my time is taken up by work but I keep going. And I sleep sometimes too.
But I'm ready for April and May. Always more to do.
How are you?
Did February go well?
What are your goals for April or May?
Tuesday, February 4, 2014
Goals and updates
I think I'm going to change to posting my monthly goals three months at a time on here because that way I don't have a goal post every single month because then it feels half my content gets focused on either what goal am I attempting or did I make any progress. Both good things but you all deserve more.
But for now, I did January goals so need to give you that update. Then I'll do February and March and we'll go from there.
January Goals
Write 4 short stories
Submit 5 items to publications.
Finish writing AF
Work on TT Edit
Start Vegetable focus using canned, frozen and fresh veggies.
1. Not quite. I started at least 4 stories during the month but I didn't finish them all. In fact, I only actually finished 1, which is already submitted, but I worked on 3 others I'd written in the past and sent those out.
2. Close. I submitted 4 different stories in January. 1 received 2 rejections and is awaiting response at the 3rd place. Good progress still since last I'd submitted was 1 story 4 times in 2009.
3. Nope. But I thought of a better ending. yay!
4. ish, not really.
5. I did post a thing, we are looking at green beans.
Also, current weight = 214. Down from 217 I believe so it's a start.
February Goals
Submit 4 stories to publications.
Write chapter in AF.
Finish reading HIVE
Post 5 blog entries overall.
Apply to one job a week.
Batch cook on day off from work.
March Goals
Edit TT.
Finish reading 1 book.
Keep submitting items if they get rejections.
Apply to one job a week.
Eat 3 servings of veggies a day
How is your year going?
What are your goals for February and/or March?
But for now, I did January goals so need to give you that update. Then I'll do February and March and we'll go from there.
January Goals
Write 4 short stories
Submit 5 items to publications.
Finish writing AF
Work on TT Edit
Start Vegetable focus using canned, frozen and fresh veggies.
1. Not quite. I started at least 4 stories during the month but I didn't finish them all. In fact, I only actually finished 1, which is already submitted, but I worked on 3 others I'd written in the past and sent those out.
2. Close. I submitted 4 different stories in January. 1 received 2 rejections and is awaiting response at the 3rd place. Good progress still since last I'd submitted was 1 story 4 times in 2009.
3. Nope. But I thought of a better ending. yay!
4. ish, not really.
5. I did post a thing, we are looking at green beans.
Also, current weight = 214. Down from 217 I believe so it's a start.
Veggie Feature: Green Beans
February Goals
Submit 4 stories to publications.
Write chapter in AF.
Finish reading HIVE
Post 5 blog entries overall.
Apply to one job a week.
Batch cook on day off from work.
March Goals
Edit TT.
Finish reading 1 book.
Keep submitting items if they get rejections.
Apply to one job a week.
Eat 3 servings of veggies a day
How is your year going?
What are your goals for February and/or March?
Thursday, January 9, 2014
The Submission Mission
I'm on a mission to submit stories for publication. Yep, after writing for years (I've been on writing.com since 2005 if that tells anything), I am making a big push to submit stories out into the world to publications. Yay!
Background: I have submitted very little in the past. 1 sci-fi flash fiction story to 4 places, one creative nonfiction because had to send it, and one set of poems. All rejected, which didn't bother me actually, and one rejection of the sci-fi was personal (as they gave comments to everyone).
Last time I submitted a story up to Jan 1, 2014, was back in 2009...
Yeah, the time has come. So, I did something fun. I made a poster! (Yay for discounts at a place that prints photos, hehe.)
With help of free vector images, gimp and inkscape to make circles, I created this. It has 100 circles and I have to mark a circle for a story submitted.
So far, I have one marked. Yay! Already got a rejection and submitted elsewhere but still, I am starting and it's great. I can't wait to get more rejections... and maybe some day acceptances too. There are more to come in the near future.
Do you submit your work?
I'm using The Grinder to keep track of where I submit. What about you?
And also... lookie, the veggie thing is live! ----->
Background: I have submitted very little in the past. 1 sci-fi flash fiction story to 4 places, one creative nonfiction because had to send it, and one set of poems. All rejected, which didn't bother me actually, and one rejection of the sci-fi was personal (as they gave comments to everyone).
Last time I submitted a story up to Jan 1, 2014, was back in 2009...
Yeah, the time has come. So, I did something fun. I made a poster! (Yay for discounts at a place that prints photos, hehe.)
With help of free vector images, gimp and inkscape to make circles, I created this. It has 100 circles and I have to mark a circle for a story submitted.
So far, I have one marked. Yay! Already got a rejection and submitted elsewhere but still, I am starting and it's great. I can't wait to get more rejections... and maybe some day acceptances too. There are more to come in the near future.
Do you submit your work?
I'm using The Grinder to keep track of where I submit. What about you?
Wednesday, January 1, 2014
New Year, New Goals and New Format
It is a new year and time to roll out the new. But first: a quick Salute to 2013! And a great big Welcome 2014!
I didn't do much blogging in 2013 in general. I did the change over from It's in the Book on this one, to Fiction and Fitness but haven't done a whole lot after the April blog challenge. But it's a new year and time to get the blog up and running in a more effective and useful manner. And with that, a new background and new post formats. I still plan to do goal type posts at the beginning of each month, but no more Insecure Writing posts. Hope all who take part in the blog hop continue to do well. I have a few other ideas I'm bringing to the blog though.
First, I am going to do a couple more posts on health and fitness. This includes a focus on vegetables segment, which will probably first be in another post, then two weeks later I will post some recipes I tried that incorporated the vegetable showcased. Thinking twice a month for now on that feature.
Then there is the writing. Aside from talking about my goals for writing each month, at least twice a month after that I need to post updates. This will in particular focus on what I've written, edited, submitted and any books/publications I've read.
The big thing is simply, blog on a regular basis. Now for the goals part of the blog.
I did goals for 2013. Here is the results of those goals.
Writing (novels)
Edit TT and SG, send to test readers, prepare for submission (edited TT, sent to test readers, on final edit, however just started SG edit barely).
Finish first draft of AF, OiEM, LtW and/or AD, TK, GaD (Finished TK and almost done with AF).
Try not to start new novel at least until November if at all (Fail but by accident, shorts became novel ideas).
Be closer to submitting by my birthday (Was closer though not there yet).
Reading
read 50 books/manga/etc (Not even close, with manga and such think the total is 20).
Life
Eat healthier (eh, need to write this goal better for next year, be more precise)
Make progress in life plans (In ways yes but always room for improvement).
Now for 2014 Goals
Writing
Finish final TT Edit.
Edit SG.
Finish first draft of 2 YA Novels.
Submit more short fiction to markets. (this breaks a goal making rule, but I am not specific for my year goal because each month I plan to make a specific goal for this item)
Read 15 books
Blog once a week minimum, taking all blogs into consideration.
Fitness
Change diet over from fast and cheap, to vegetables and home cooked but cheap.
Do a physical activity for 30 minutes 3 days a week, not counting work.
Lose 25 lbs. (Current weight is 217).
January Goals
Write 4 short stories
Submit 5 items to publications.
Finish writing AF
Work on TT Edit
Start Vegetable focus using canned, frozen and fresh veggies.
How did 2013 go for you?
Do you have any goals for 2014? Any goals just for January?
(image link)
I didn't do much blogging in 2013 in general. I did the change over from It's in the Book on this one, to Fiction and Fitness but haven't done a whole lot after the April blog challenge. But it's a new year and time to get the blog up and running in a more effective and useful manner. And with that, a new background and new post formats. I still plan to do goal type posts at the beginning of each month, but no more Insecure Writing posts. Hope all who take part in the blog hop continue to do well. I have a few other ideas I'm bringing to the blog though.
First, I am going to do a couple more posts on health and fitness. This includes a focus on vegetables segment, which will probably first be in another post, then two weeks later I will post some recipes I tried that incorporated the vegetable showcased. Thinking twice a month for now on that feature.
Then there is the writing. Aside from talking about my goals for writing each month, at least twice a month after that I need to post updates. This will in particular focus on what I've written, edited, submitted and any books/publications I've read.
The big thing is simply, blog on a regular basis. Now for the goals part of the blog.
(image link)
I did goals for 2013. Here is the results of those goals.
Writing (novels)
Edit TT and SG, send to test readers, prepare for submission (edited TT, sent to test readers, on final edit, however just started SG edit barely).
Finish first draft of AF, OiEM, LtW and/or AD, TK, GaD (Finished TK and almost done with AF).
Try not to start new novel at least until November if at all (Fail but by accident, shorts became novel ideas).
Be closer to submitting by my birthday (Was closer though not there yet).
Reading
read 50 books/manga/etc (Not even close, with manga and such think the total is 20).
Life
Eat healthier (eh, need to write this goal better for next year, be more precise)
Make progress in life plans (In ways yes but always room for improvement).
Now for 2014 Goals
Writing
Finish final TT Edit.
Edit SG.
Finish first draft of 2 YA Novels.
Submit more short fiction to markets. (this breaks a goal making rule, but I am not specific for my year goal because each month I plan to make a specific goal for this item)
Read 15 books
Blog once a week minimum, taking all blogs into consideration.
Fitness
Change diet over from fast and cheap, to vegetables and home cooked but cheap.
Do a physical activity for 30 minutes 3 days a week, not counting work.
Lose 25 lbs. (Current weight is 217).
January Goals
Write 4 short stories
Submit 5 items to publications.
Finish writing AF
Work on TT Edit
Start Vegetable focus using canned, frozen and fresh veggies.
How did 2013 go for you?
Do you have any goals for 2014? Any goals just for January?
Wednesday, August 7, 2013
Update/Goals/IWSG
Wow, I haven't blogged in over a month. I keep meaning to put up a post then get distracted. Lot happened over the last month. Went to a funeral in Wyoming, worked, spent a lot of time on a writing web site, worked... a lot yet not much going on at the same time. I have a novel at the end of an editing round and others waiting to go. No progress so far on weight loss despite walking more but haven't given up either.
I haven't even posted goals since June, that's unusual. Better get back to work considering some of my goals the past month or so has been to blog more.
August Goals
Finish reading 2 books.
Write short story (10-15k).
Research agents and rewrite query letter.
Edit 2 chapters in SG.
Get car soon.
Also, today is once again the Insecure Writer's Support Group (check it out here). So, the topic of goals actually works because I make goals all the time and part of the time I don't reach them. I made it a goal to finish reading 2 books last month on a different site and I didn't finish reading two. I almost had one finished and instead started another but haven't finished reading the first yet. The issue of not reaching a goal set is something I've seen elsewhere too.
On this writing web site I'm on, there is a forum where we can post on Monday with goals for the week, and we get points for posting goals then and on Friday if we post how we did. Well, one posted this last week goals but also made a comment about how she was tired at failing each week on the goals she set.
Which is understandable. Especially if you post and read so many other people posting and it seems they are almost always reaching their goals. It's hard to then look at yours and go, why didn't I succeed when others have. Sure, we should focus on ourselves and not what someone else did, but it's hard at times.
However, another post replying to the lament over failing made a good point. Maybe we need to reconsider the word "fail". Because there are many levels of not succeeding when it comes to a goal and while it's not a success not all of them are a complete fail. Did you try at all in the goal?
I mean, really, unless you had many opportunities and instead went to bed all the time or decided to watch Jerry Springer or such instead often, then maybe it's not quite a "fail". Like my book reading goals that I often don't reach. Is it a complete fail if I didn't finish two books? No. Why? Because while I didn't finish books I am still reading and that's something. Sometimes we forget about the something.
That's my tip of the day: Don't forget the little somethings when reaching for your goals.
Do you make goals?
What do you think about ones you don't quite succeed on?
August goals anyone?
I haven't even posted goals since June, that's unusual. Better get back to work considering some of my goals the past month or so has been to blog more.
August Goals
Finish reading 2 books.
Write short story (10-15k).
Research agents and rewrite query letter.
Edit 2 chapters in SG.
Get car soon.
Also, today is once again the Insecure Writer's Support Group (check it out here). So, the topic of goals actually works because I make goals all the time and part of the time I don't reach them. I made it a goal to finish reading 2 books last month on a different site and I didn't finish reading two. I almost had one finished and instead started another but haven't finished reading the first yet. The issue of not reaching a goal set is something I've seen elsewhere too.
On this writing web site I'm on, there is a forum where we can post on Monday with goals for the week, and we get points for posting goals then and on Friday if we post how we did. Well, one posted this last week goals but also made a comment about how she was tired at failing each week on the goals she set.
Which is understandable. Especially if you post and read so many other people posting and it seems they are almost always reaching their goals. It's hard to then look at yours and go, why didn't I succeed when others have. Sure, we should focus on ourselves and not what someone else did, but it's hard at times.
However, another post replying to the lament over failing made a good point. Maybe we need to reconsider the word "fail". Because there are many levels of not succeeding when it comes to a goal and while it's not a success not all of them are a complete fail. Did you try at all in the goal?
I mean, really, unless you had many opportunities and instead went to bed all the time or decided to watch Jerry Springer or such instead often, then maybe it's not quite a "fail". Like my book reading goals that I often don't reach. Is it a complete fail if I didn't finish two books? No. Why? Because while I didn't finish books I am still reading and that's something. Sometimes we forget about the something.
That's my tip of the day: Don't forget the little somethings when reaching for your goals.
Do you make goals?
What do you think about ones you don't quite succeed on?
August goals anyone?
Saturday, June 1, 2013
June Goals
Summer time has arrived. It's time for some new goals but first, how did May go. Well, it was quite the distracting month. Car troubles has lead to me not having a car and instead taking the bus or catching rides with coworkers. It added walking to my schedule but also turned to candy on occasion for some stress relief. Got promoted on a writing web site to a moderator, which is really cool and unexpected along with a few other things. Quite the month overall.
May Results
Read 1 book - finished reading 3 technically cause the library books were due before the car no longer was drivable so those were May 2nd & 3rd, but also finished The Thirteenth Chime. And started reading Paranormalcy.
Edit Tattle Tell - Stalled. Only finished editing chapter 16 by the end of the month. Have 17-25 left to do.
Write 5,000 words in novella - nope. This one fell due to distractions and I haven't written anything in the novella since March.
Don't sleep all morning on days off - Had a couple of them where I slept too much but now thanks to a 3-day weekend of 8 am shifts I have been getting up between 6 and 8:30 in the morning even without an alarm clock.
Lose 5lb - Well I gained a couple but am down again those lbs. Didn't quite make it but June will be better.
Current Weight: 218
June Goals
Finish reading 2 books
Come up with eating plan.
Lose 4 lbs.
Write 10,000 words in novella.
Finish editing Tattle Tell.
Blog in all 4 blogs at least once.
Get a car.
What are your goals for the month?
May Results
Read 1 book - finished reading 3 technically cause the library books were due before the car no longer was drivable so those were May 2nd & 3rd, but also finished The Thirteenth Chime. And started reading Paranormalcy.
Edit Tattle Tell - Stalled. Only finished editing chapter 16 by the end of the month. Have 17-25 left to do.
Write 5,000 words in novella - nope. This one fell due to distractions and I haven't written anything in the novella since March.
Don't sleep all morning on days off - Had a couple of them where I slept too much but now thanks to a 3-day weekend of 8 am shifts I have been getting up between 6 and 8:30 in the morning even without an alarm clock.
Lose 5lb - Well I gained a couple but am down again those lbs. Didn't quite make it but June will be better.
Current Weight: 218
June Goals
Finish reading 2 books
Come up with eating plan.
Lose 4 lbs.
Write 10,000 words in novella.
Finish editing Tattle Tell.
Blog in all 4 blogs at least once.
Get a car.
What are your goals for the month?
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
May Goals
April is over and I made it through the challenge. I still have some commenting to do and will try to get to some of the blogs that I wanted to read but ran out of time as I was working and such. However, I am glad it is over. I had fun posting at times, though it was hard other days. I like the challenge but am definitely ready to go back to a less strict blog schedule.
April I had a few goals. Here they are:
Finish reading 2 books
Edit 4 chapters
Write 10,000 words in novella
Lose 4 lbs
No fast food
How did I do?
Finished reading 2 books.
Worked on editing one chapter but not done with it.
Made it through blog challenge (it wasn't up there but it was important)
Gained a couple of lbs.
Didn't eat any fast food.
Time to re-evaluate and get some goals up for this month.
May Goals
Edit rest of Tattle Tell (or as much as I can and get rest done early June)
Write 5,000 words for Novella
Lose 5 lbs by eating healthier and moving around more
Don't sleep all morning on days off
Read 1 book.
What are your goals?
April I had a few goals. Here they are:
Finish reading 2 books
Edit 4 chapters
Write 10,000 words in novella
Lose 4 lbs
No fast food
How did I do?
Finished reading 2 books.
Worked on editing one chapter but not done with it.
Made it through blog challenge (it wasn't up there but it was important)
Gained a couple of lbs.
Didn't eat any fast food.
Time to re-evaluate and get some goals up for this month.
May Goals
Edit rest of Tattle Tell (or as much as I can and get rest done early June)
Write 5,000 words for Novella
Lose 5 lbs by eating healthier and moving around more
Don't sleep all morning on days off
Read 1 book.
What are your goals?
Friday, March 1, 2013
March Goals
Monthly Goal Time (already)
February had its ups and downs. I edited a few chapters, read a book, and wrote some small bits of flash fiction.
Writing Goals
Write a chapter in AF and LtW
Edit 5 chapters in TT (I have 15 left for the novel)
Read at least 1 book
Fitness Goals
Get a fitness schedule together
Use an exercise video twice a week
Use resistance bands twice a week
Continue to cook at home focusing on healthy eating
Lose 4 lbs
How did February go for you?
What are your goals for the month of March?
February had its ups and downs. I edited a few chapters, read a book, and wrote some small bits of flash fiction.
Writing Goals
Write a chapter in AF and LtW
Edit 5 chapters in TT (I have 15 left for the novel)
Read at least 1 book
Fitness Goals
Get a fitness schedule together
Use an exercise video twice a week
Use resistance bands twice a week
Continue to cook at home focusing on healthy eating
Lose 4 lbs
How did February go for you?
What are your goals for the month of March?
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
The How
How am I going to make it to my goals? This is the post to discuss some of the things I will do in the near future. Some will be easier than others and some will be in the not so near future, but these are my plans in order to reach my goals.
Some goals will be easier to achieve than others, and some rely upon gaining certain resources, but it's good to have a plan for achieving them all.
Fiction Writing: the how
This is an easier one in a way. Sure, it takes doing the work but all I have to do is the work in order to reach most of my goals at this point when it comes to the writing. And in order for that to happen, I need to plan time for the tasks it takes to reach those goals.
Editing - I have discovered that I can get editing done pretty well on days I work, which surprised me. I would think I'd be more productive on my days off, but a good part of the editing lately has been the hour or two right before work. So that time will be my editing time each day I work and sometimes I'll find time on my days not working.
Writing - along with editing, the writing will help if I stick to the monthly goals, picking which projects to work on each month and setting deadlines. I get more done if I have a deadline and since the write in December-January-February challenge is almost done, I'll have one less writing obligation and can refocus on the novels. For February my main focus right now is the novella, C9.March I want to work on C9 and maybe finish AF, and work on hmmm LtW. Since in nanowrimo I was doing 5,000 words a day, I think I should do at least 5,000 words of new writing a week. Sounds reasonable and less crazy. ;-)
Birthday Goal - that one is reliant on accomplishing my editing goals. I'm on chapter 7 of 25 and have until end of August to edit, take a break and maybe fix if I find more. Going to be close on this goal unless I pick up the editing pace.
Fitness: the how
Now for the big one. What will I do to reach my fitness goals. Again, some are easier and will take less time than others. Some require more planning and financial influences as well as determination. But this is my current plan on how to reach them.
1. This just requires I find a location that allows for shooting bows that would have recurve bows and be able to pay whatever fee. However, I also plan to do resistance training to help strengthen my arms, even more than just lifting heavy things at work. I know that after a little while, it can be tiring shooting a bow. Last time me and my sister did it for like an hour and our arms were very sore the next day.
2. Again, requires access to the equipment and not only strength building, but also hand-eye coordination skills practiced a bit more. Mine aren't too bad but it's a far cry from when I was active in sports. Will incorporate some challenges, training for the coordination along with the resistance training.
3. Same issue as 2. Need location, weapon, teacher, and ability to handle it without wanting to drop the sword after three moves. Also need to be able to move quick, be faster on my feet, which should come with cardio and less weight to carry around.
4. Sensing a theme here. Need to do research, find a method and place to learn that form of hand to hand combat. Also need strength and endurance, so cardio and resistance, along with weight loss to reach this goal.
5. Easy enough. I'm sure I can find a place to ride horses again. But want to weigh less before I do that. Hoping to lose around 4 lbs a month with eating and exercise.
6. Cardio.
So the how is pretty generic. Seems the main stream throughout is I need to lose weight, do cardio and resistance training first. What am I going to do for that? I would love a gym membership. This might surprise some as I actually enjoyed and miss lifting weights, like I had to back in high school and once in a college class. A gym is a great place, however, I can't afford it currently. So, that will have to wait. I have right now, workout dvds, a small "gym" that's smaller than my bedroom here at my apartment complex, and am looking for resistance bands on clearance or at least on sale. I've been improving my eating habits and am trying to eat like the more fit person I want to become. Sure, I mess up on occasion (Easter candy is in stores now and they have cheesy garlic bread potato chips in small bags now), but I'm doing far better than my one meal, taco bell days.I am mostly eating chicken and veggies, but got some oats to make oatmeal with and have other plans in the future.
Next blog post will be a fiction entry for a romance writing blog hop, but then I will explain the Eating Like the Fit Person I Want to Become concept. Until then,
What are your goals?
Do you make plans in order to reach them?
Some goals will be easier to achieve than others, and some rely upon gaining certain resources, but it's good to have a plan for achieving them all.
Fiction Writing: the how
This is an easier one in a way. Sure, it takes doing the work but all I have to do is the work in order to reach most of my goals at this point when it comes to the writing. And in order for that to happen, I need to plan time for the tasks it takes to reach those goals.
Editing - I have discovered that I can get editing done pretty well on days I work, which surprised me. I would think I'd be more productive on my days off, but a good part of the editing lately has been the hour or two right before work. So that time will be my editing time each day I work and sometimes I'll find time on my days not working.
Writing - along with editing, the writing will help if I stick to the monthly goals, picking which projects to work on each month and setting deadlines. I get more done if I have a deadline and since the write in December-January-February challenge is almost done, I'll have one less writing obligation and can refocus on the novels. For February my main focus right now is the novella, C9.March I want to work on C9 and maybe finish AF, and work on hmmm LtW. Since in nanowrimo I was doing 5,000 words a day, I think I should do at least 5,000 words of new writing a week. Sounds reasonable and less crazy. ;-)
Birthday Goal - that one is reliant on accomplishing my editing goals. I'm on chapter 7 of 25 and have until end of August to edit, take a break and maybe fix if I find more. Going to be close on this goal unless I pick up the editing pace.
Fitness: the how
Now for the big one. What will I do to reach my fitness goals. Again, some are easier and will take less time than others. Some require more planning and financial influences as well as determination. But this is my current plan on how to reach them.
1. This just requires I find a location that allows for shooting bows that would have recurve bows and be able to pay whatever fee. However, I also plan to do resistance training to help strengthen my arms, even more than just lifting heavy things at work. I know that after a little while, it can be tiring shooting a bow. Last time me and my sister did it for like an hour and our arms were very sore the next day.
2. Again, requires access to the equipment and not only strength building, but also hand-eye coordination skills practiced a bit more. Mine aren't too bad but it's a far cry from when I was active in sports. Will incorporate some challenges, training for the coordination along with the resistance training.
3. Same issue as 2. Need location, weapon, teacher, and ability to handle it without wanting to drop the sword after three moves. Also need to be able to move quick, be faster on my feet, which should come with cardio and less weight to carry around.
4. Sensing a theme here. Need to do research, find a method and place to learn that form of hand to hand combat. Also need strength and endurance, so cardio and resistance, along with weight loss to reach this goal.
5. Easy enough. I'm sure I can find a place to ride horses again. But want to weigh less before I do that. Hoping to lose around 4 lbs a month with eating and exercise.
6. Cardio.
So the how is pretty generic. Seems the main stream throughout is I need to lose weight, do cardio and resistance training first. What am I going to do for that? I would love a gym membership. This might surprise some as I actually enjoyed and miss lifting weights, like I had to back in high school and once in a college class. A gym is a great place, however, I can't afford it currently. So, that will have to wait. I have right now, workout dvds, a small "gym" that's smaller than my bedroom here at my apartment complex, and am looking for resistance bands on clearance or at least on sale. I've been improving my eating habits and am trying to eat like the more fit person I want to become. Sure, I mess up on occasion (Easter candy is in stores now and they have cheesy garlic bread potato chips in small bags now), but I'm doing far better than my one meal, taco bell days.I am mostly eating chicken and veggies, but got some oats to make oatmeal with and have other plans in the future.
Next blog post will be a fiction entry for a romance writing blog hop, but then I will explain the Eating Like the Fit Person I Want to Become concept. Until then,
What are your goals?
Do you make plans in order to reach them?
Monday, February 11, 2013
Fiction and Fitness goals
I have a number of goals and am a big fan of making goals public not only on a year basis but often monthly so that I have more than the characters in my head to hold me accountable.
I post my novel goals on this blog almost every month and once a year, or sometimes twice when I know I need to adjust my goals and it's helpful.
My "fiction writing" goals:
Edit TT and SG, send to test readers, prepare for submission
Finish first draft of AF, OiEM, LtW and/or AD, TK, GaD
Try not to start new novel at least until November if at all. - Failed already, lol. I started a novella.
Be close to submitting by my birthday (end of August)
The basic aspect of my goal for writing is just to write. I could say my goal is to be published but even if that doesn't happen, I'm going to keep writing. I want to get at least 10 percent of the stories in my head out. I say 10 percent because as I get some done more appear. If I can get at least a little of them down it will be a great accomplishment.
I am making slow progress and plan to continue that while finding time also to get out of the chair, not spending hours on end.
Fitness for the Fantasy/Sci-Fi Writer
Yep, I want my fitness to relate to my writing and I'm sure some of you are wondering how that is possible. The basics of it is this: I want to be able to do some of the things my characters can do. Sure I can't use magic to block attacks or control electricity, I'm not that crazy, I promise. But there are things that the character do in the stories that I'd like to have hands on experience with in order to write them better. I have used a bow and arrow, so that is easier for me to write, for example. So, few things I'd like to be able to do involve weaponry.
I have a couple of recent posts about some of my fiction goals but since this is a post for both I will repost some of the goals from the fiction side before I get into the health/fitness ones.
My "fiction fitness" goals:
1. shoot a bow again (it has been years, I prefer recurve bows instead of compound)
2. learn how to handle a staff
3. learn to use a sword (not broadsword, I'm only 4'11.5 after all, so maybe a hobbit or elf sword as I think of elves as small, not large beings)
4. have light knowledge of hand to hand combat, sparring and such, and by knowledge I mean be able to do it myself and know what it feels like doing such.
5. ride a horse (I don't use that often in stories but it is fun and might come in handy and I have in the past but something I'd like to try when not as overweight)
6. walk a long distance and will come up with an exact "fantasy" amount in the near future (yeah... i do that cause I'm not sure what to do to transport characters at times)
My "other health" goals:
This is for the more typical health goals. I do have both long term and short term goals for this because both are important.
I do have weight goals. This is what many focus on and while it's a way to track, it's not the only way so it's only going to be a part of this, a not large part, I hope, but still important. But to understand those goals, I must first explain where I'm starting from on this part of the journey. At my largest that I can think of I have weighed 230, though most of the time I go between 205-217 when I'm not trying really to lose weight. I started 2013 once at got my scale at 216 and in beginning of 2012 I was 217. At the lowest that I kept track was on Weight Watchers, when I got down to 179 but between college, money and such, didn't keep to that. I'm down to 211 right now, working on my February goal of losing 4 lbs.
My first short term goal, then, is to get under 200 lbs again. It's a little less than 10% loss, which is the second mini milestone, to have lost 21 lbs from the initial 216, which would be 195.
My big scale number goal right now is 160. Technically for my height and as a female, most indexes and "diet" organizations, (bmi, ww, jenny craig, etc) recommend a weight of about 123. I just can't see that at this stage, and I have other plans that require a healthy weight gain (pregnancy) in the not extremely long distant future, so I am not going to set my goals to that. Sure, I'll be "overweight" at the 160, but it's a good major point and I can always re-evaluate when I get and stay there. Plus it would be nice to be "overweight" instead of "obese".
I also have a little scale that shows body fat percentage. While it might not be the most accurate, it would be nice to see that number go down. It's saying 54.9 percent right now, so my first goal is to get it under 50%. I'd like the final one to be closer to a healthy body fat percentage, but right now I'll do it with 50% then 45, then 40.
Finally, clothing. First goal is women's size 18. I'd like to one day fit in a size 12-14 (as sizes vary). Sure, I'll still have to hem all my pants but would be nice to not be in the plus sizes and be able to shop at more stores.
The How
That is for the next post because it's important to have a plan in order to reach goals. However, I don't want to make these too long and I can easily ramble on for a long time. Until then, I hope people enjoy the new blog focus.
I post my novel goals on this blog almost every month and once a year, or sometimes twice when I know I need to adjust my goals and it's helpful.
My "fiction writing" goals:
Edit TT and SG, send to test readers, prepare for submission
Finish first draft of AF, OiEM, LtW and/or AD, TK, GaD
Try not to start new novel at least until November if at all. - Failed already, lol. I started a novella.
Be close to submitting by my birthday (end of August)
The basic aspect of my goal for writing is just to write. I could say my goal is to be published but even if that doesn't happen, I'm going to keep writing. I want to get at least 10 percent of the stories in my head out. I say 10 percent because as I get some done more appear. If I can get at least a little of them down it will be a great accomplishment.
I am making slow progress and plan to continue that while finding time also to get out of the chair, not spending hours on end.
Fitness for the Fantasy/Sci-Fi Writer
Yep, I want my fitness to relate to my writing and I'm sure some of you are wondering how that is possible. The basics of it is this: I want to be able to do some of the things my characters can do. Sure I can't use magic to block attacks or control electricity, I'm not that crazy, I promise. But there are things that the character do in the stories that I'd like to have hands on experience with in order to write them better. I have used a bow and arrow, so that is easier for me to write, for example. So, few things I'd like to be able to do involve weaponry.
I have a couple of recent posts about some of my fiction goals but since this is a post for both I will repost some of the goals from the fiction side before I get into the health/fitness ones.
My "fiction fitness" goals:
1. shoot a bow again (it has been years, I prefer recurve bows instead of compound)
2. learn how to handle a staff
3. learn to use a sword (not broadsword, I'm only 4'11.5 after all, so maybe a hobbit or elf sword as I think of elves as small, not large beings)
4. have light knowledge of hand to hand combat, sparring and such, and by knowledge I mean be able to do it myself and know what it feels like doing such.
5. ride a horse (I don't use that often in stories but it is fun and might come in handy and I have in the past but something I'd like to try when not as overweight)
6. walk a long distance and will come up with an exact "fantasy" amount in the near future (yeah... i do that cause I'm not sure what to do to transport characters at times)
My "other health" goals:
This is for the more typical health goals. I do have both long term and short term goals for this because both are important.
I do have weight goals. This is what many focus on and while it's a way to track, it's not the only way so it's only going to be a part of this, a not large part, I hope, but still important. But to understand those goals, I must first explain where I'm starting from on this part of the journey. At my largest that I can think of I have weighed 230, though most of the time I go between 205-217 when I'm not trying really to lose weight. I started 2013 once at got my scale at 216 and in beginning of 2012 I was 217. At the lowest that I kept track was on Weight Watchers, when I got down to 179 but between college, money and such, didn't keep to that. I'm down to 211 right now, working on my February goal of losing 4 lbs.
My first short term goal, then, is to get under 200 lbs again. It's a little less than 10% loss, which is the second mini milestone, to have lost 21 lbs from the initial 216, which would be 195.
My big scale number goal right now is 160. Technically for my height and as a female, most indexes and "diet" organizations, (bmi, ww, jenny craig, etc) recommend a weight of about 123. I just can't see that at this stage, and I have other plans that require a healthy weight gain (pregnancy) in the not extremely long distant future, so I am not going to set my goals to that. Sure, I'll be "overweight" at the 160, but it's a good major point and I can always re-evaluate when I get and stay there. Plus it would be nice to be "overweight" instead of "obese".
I also have a little scale that shows body fat percentage. While it might not be the most accurate, it would be nice to see that number go down. It's saying 54.9 percent right now, so my first goal is to get it under 50%. I'd like the final one to be closer to a healthy body fat percentage, but right now I'll do it with 50% then 45, then 40.
Finally, clothing. First goal is women's size 18. I'd like to one day fit in a size 12-14 (as sizes vary). Sure, I'll still have to hem all my pants but would be nice to not be in the plus sizes and be able to shop at more stores.
The How
That is for the next post because it's important to have a plan in order to reach goals. However, I don't want to make these too long and I can easily ramble on for a long time. Until then, I hope people enjoy the new blog focus.
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
2013 Goals
Goal time once again. Here are some of the things I plan to work on in 2013 and maybe this time I won't get distracted and forget about them during the year.
Writing (novels)
Edit TT and SG, send to test readers, prepare for submission
Finish first draft of AF, OiEM, LtW and/or AD, TK, GaD
Try not to start new novel at least until November if at all.
Be closer to submitting by my birthday (end of August)
Reading
read 50 books/manga/etc
Life
Eat healthier
Make progress in life plans
What are your goals for 2013?
Writing (novels)
Edit TT and SG, send to test readers, prepare for submission
Finish first draft of AF, OiEM, LtW and/or AD, TK, GaD
Try not to start new novel at least until November if at all.
Be closer to submitting by my birthday (end of August)
Reading
read 50 books/manga/etc
Life
Eat healthier
Make progress in life plans
What are your goals for 2013?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Fun
I write like
Arthur Conan Doyle
Arthur Conan Doyle
I Write Like by Mémoires, Mac journal software. Analyze your writing!