Baked Goods and Goals

October is my birthday month (and my husband's!), and while baked goods are always involved, we sometimes use this, not January, as the start of our new year. We make plans and set goals but keep it loose, see what’s working and what isn’t so we can tweak things before the actual new year. 

I’m considering two bigger goals for myself - one weight loss/health-related and one writing-related. We’ll see how it goes!

 

WRITING

A flash fiction story is out to an anthology – fingers crossed! And the first draft of my longer story/novella is moving forward. Slower than a tortoise full of banana, but forward is forward. 

 

WATCHING

Movies – We enjoyed The Trap (by M. Night Shyamalan) and AfrAId (starring John Cho).  

 

TV – We’re still having fun re-watching L.A. Law! We get a big kick out of seeing how many guest stars we recognize in their younger days.

 

READING

I’ve used the words dark and twisty here before when describing other books, but A. R. Torre’s, The Last Party, takes those words to a whole other level in the best way possible. Whoa. Just whoa.

 

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Do you use your birthday to look back over the year and/or look ahead? How do you celebrate your birthday? Any TV shows or movies to recommend? Read anything lately that blew you away?

 

Halfway There

The title of this post is not only because the year is almost half over but also because my husband and I started watching Thank you, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story on Hulu. (Let’s see who’s old enough to now have a certain song’s refrain in their heads. . . .)  

Checking in on my 24 in 2024 Trifecta goals/plans:

 

One Word 

My word for the year is Unapologetic. I’m to stop apologizing endlessly and needlessly, externally and internally. This is not going well. I’m still dithering, doubting, second guessing. 

 

The 24 in 24 List

This is also not going the way I’d hoped, and I’m not sure why. I’ve been struggling a lot with energy – emotional, mental, physical - and focus, so that might have something to do with it. 

 

The Write 24 in 24 Challenge

Yes! This is actually working. So far, I haven’t missed a day – knock wood! – and I’m keeping myself accountable, including setting loose monthly goals to give myself some direction. The best part is that it feels like I’ve found my creative joy again. I’m working on all sorts of things. I even wrote a 2500-word short story, something I haven’t done in a long time, if ever. 

 

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Something I thought was absolutely hilarious from Austin Kleon’s free newsletter [5/17/24] – “Frederik Backman on Creative Anxiety and Procrastination.” Just make sure you’re not drinking coffee or anything because it’ll be all over your keyboard by the end of the 4 minute video. 

 

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How’s your year going so far? Accomplished any goals? Made some progress? Decided to revise or scrap altogether? Any suggestions for getting back to my One Word and my 24 List? Have you laughed out loud recently? I hope so, since we’re all just livin’ on a prayer . . . .

Super Simple

My One Word for 2023 is actually an acronym:

 

KISS – Keep It Super Simple

 

I recently mentioned to a friend that my brain feels too full and too empty at the same time. (Not sure if that makes sense to anyone else but it did to us!) There's too much "clutter" around me and inside of me. It's time to purge and streamline. So, in keeping with that theme, even my goals for 2023 are pretty straightforward:

 

WRITING – focus on the novella/novel

PHYSICAL HEALTH – focus on losing pounds

MENTAL HEALTH – focus on managing anxiety

 

A lot of things will have to go by the wayside in order for me to put my energy, my focus where it absolutely, positively needs to go. I have no idea if this will work, but I'm going with it. 

 

(On a side note, you may recall, my husband and I had signed up for three different miles challenges last year. The results? 0/100 miles on one challenge, 30/100 miles on the other and . . .  drum roll, please! . . . 202.2/202.2 miles! Not great, but not too shabby either.) 

 

Wishing you all a creative, healthy, joyful 2023!

 

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Do you have any goals/plans for 2023? Any advice/suggestions for me? 

Numbers Everywhere

I am not a numbers person, but when I look back at 2021 and look ahead to 2022, imagine my surprise when I see numbers everywhere: 

 

Apparently, according to my stats, I have written close to 900 blog posts. I would say I have no words but apparently I do. About 900 blog posts worth of words. And counting. 

 

In 2021, my husband and I signed up to do a virtual challenge of 500 miles. It did not go well. We did learn a lot, though, in terms of energy, pacing, timing and taking into account the seasons (I'm looking at you Florida melt-your-face summer!) For 2022, we decided to do two separate virtual challenges of 100 miles each, one after the other. The focus is on walking, but we plan on adding biking as well. 

 

For the last couple of years, the goal of my Reading Challenge over on Goodreads was 80 books. This is a totally doable goal for me, but since my focus flaps around like a palm frond in the wind, I barely squeaked by. So I'm giving myself a break and setting the 2022 Reading Challenge to 52 books. I will knock this out easily and have an early win, something I really need. 

 

The tortoises are now 12 years old. Larry weighs about 11 pounds. He is a sensitive soul inside that solid shell. Mrs. Larry, who is lighter and smaller, refuses to divulge her stats but wants to make sure everyone knows that even though Larry is large, she's the one in charge. Of us all. 

 

Honestly, I don't even remember my One Word for last year. For 2022, I played with ideas, made lists, searched for the word that will be my theme for the year, that will keep me on a good track. One word jumped off the page – WRITING. Yes, I wrote last year, but it wasn't pretty. My creativity, discipline, focus, imagination, overall oomph fizzled then flattened like an opened bottle of seltzer. My hope for 2022 is that on those occasions when I get anxious, depressed and freaked out (or, in other words, every day) my One Word reminds me of how writing is intrinsic to who I am, that I am not lost, that I am still here, that I am still me. 

 

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How were your "numbers" for 2021? How are they looking for 2022? Do you have a One Word? Any goals or plans for 2022?

Almost There

The weather here is beautiful this time of year – breezy, cool and sunny  – and I hope to let that crisp air snap me out of my long-lasting funk, let it gush out the gunk clogging my heart, mind, and spirit. Yes, that's asking a lot from the weather, so I will help it along as best I can. Even as I take myself outside, I'll also turn inward to figure out some things, like: 

 

* How do I take better care of myself – physically, mentally, emotionally? 

 

* How do I stay focused on what's important to me and not get distracted, especially by things outside my control? 

 

* What kind of challenges and goals do I set for myself so I move forward, slowly but surely, and not end up standing still, weighted down with unrealistic expectations? 

 

Okay, so I have lots of questions and not many answers, but one thing I do know for sure is this: 

 

All of us here at The Shellshank Redemption wish all of you a holiday season and a new year full of more joy than you know what to do with, laughter so loud and hearty it drowns out any negativity, so much energy and good health you thrum with it, and hope so strong and sure it pulls you through any darkness that dares show its face.  

 

Happy Holidays and Happy New Year! 

 

🎄🎉🎄🎉🎄🎉🎄🎉🎄🎉🎄🎉

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How was your 2021? Do you have any answers or suggestions for the questions I'm mulling over? Kicking around any goals or making any plans for 2022? 

One Small Step

Other than a few specific goals (see below for one of them), my overall plan for 2021 is to move in a positive direction, to choose projects or tasks that will move me in a "creative" direction or in a "healthy" direction, etc. I have no idea if this will work, but even though 2020 sucked the oomph out of me, I still want to enter 2021 with a bounce in my step. 

 

"The good life is a process, not a state of being. 

It is a direction not a destination."

Carl Rogers

Speaking of direction and moving, did I mention I plan to walk 500 miles this year?

 

Yes, for some of you that's a piece of cake, but since my steps consist mostly of me going from my desk to the kitchen to get a piece of cake, this is huge. 

 

My husband and I signed up for this virtual challenge to encourage a healthy lifestyle, but it will be more than just a physical challenge for me. As someone who has perfectionist tendencies, the thought of falling behind and/or failing altogether makes me incredibly anxious. But one of the things I told myself - other than that I've lost my mind - is that any miles I walk because of this challenge are miles I might not have walked otherwise. Any accumulation will be an accomplishment. 

 

I'll do the occasional update here on the blog. It will be much like tracking the progress of a tortoise. If I'm lucky.  

 

Miles Walked as of 1/4/2021 = 5.6/500

 

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Did you make any resolutions, set goals? Or are you keeping it a little looser like I am? Anything you'd recommend for my walks – music/podcasts/audio books to listen to, sneakers, socks, workout clothes, etc? 

Winding Down and Revving Up

I've pretty much stopped making official New Year's resolutions. Instead, I choose certain areas of my life and certain things to make priorities, places and activities where I want to put my effort and energy. I tend to do this more around my birthday month - October - although I do find January a good time to re-focus on those plans.

Some of them are concrete and specific:

* Finish yet another draft of my Horror/YA Horror novel by June 

* Read 100 books

Others are more generalized, ones where I have notes to check in with myself to see how I'm progressing:   

* Read and study more books about the craft of writing

* Read  - and reread - more horror

* Continue to be open and ready for more Year of Yes opportunities 

How about you all? Do you make resolutions? Anything in particular you're looking forward to in 2013? Any recommendations for horror novels or Year of Yes activities?

Give Me a G! GOALS

Welcome to The Blogging A-Z Challenge April 2012! Some of the most popular posts here at The Shellshank Redemption are the Motivational Mondays. So, after consulting the tortoises, we decided to make April our Motivational Month! Please join us for this (almost!) daily dose of alphabetical inspiration. We hope you enjoy it!

* OBSTACLES ARE THE THINGS WE SEE WHEN WE TAKE OUR EYES OFF OUR GOALS. (Zig Ziglar) *

This is so easy, too easy, to do. We get distracted, discouraged. Circumstances change and become difficult, people disapprove or show disinterest in something so vital to who we are and who we hope to be. Hearts break. Spirits crumble.

Maybe everyone is right and we can’t do it and we’re silly to even try and there are more important things to think about and…. STOP!

Maybe we really don’t have the ability and the guts and the time and the finances and… STOP!

Put on blinders. Put on noise-canceling headphones. Draw a map for the journey, pack enough focus and optimism and encouragement for a very long trip. Then…GO!

The Check-Up

Summer is almost over - not that you'd know it here in Florida - and all over the country, school is already in session or about to be. Ahhh, I can smell those new notebooks with all those blank pages just waiting to be filled with notes and facts and doodles and ideas. Of course, as an adult (ahem!) I can get a new notebook pretty much whenever I want so the feeling isn't quite the same but I do tend to cling to nostalgia the way lint clings to the dryer screen. 

But this time of year also makes me think back to what I've done so far this year. Okay, this time of year and the fact that we took the tortoises to the vet and it made me think about "check-ups" in general.

[Side note: the tortoises are healthy and active and the vet got a big kick out of how personable they are. I guess I should say how personable Mrs. Larry is since Larry pretty much stayed in his shell the whole time. Mrs. L looked around the office, stuck her head out to be petted and, when she was getting her nails clipped, acted as if she was getting a manicure/pedicure. Larry? I didn't see his head again until we were back in the car. (Although, to be fair, that's pretty much how I act when I have to go to the doctor.)]

So, I thought I'd do a quick check-up on my writing for the past six months or so....

Stories/short pieces
- I've written a number of new things - some finished, some in various stages of being finished.
- I've had about 8 of those new works - plus a handful of older ones - accepted/published.
- I won one contest and placed in another.

Novels/longer ms
- I finished a women's fiction ms, revised it a bit, then set it aside because something about it wasn't working. I haven't given up on it, though, because I do love the characters and the story.
- I wrote a women's fiction/horror-type first draft for the first ever Camp NaNo (July.) Right now, it's sitting and drumming its fingers waiting for me to figure out exactly what to do with it.

Other achievements
- I'm on track for the monthly Light Ray version of Write 1 Sub 1.
- I was invited to join Write 1 Sub 1 as a co-administrator.
- I've kept up with my blog and tried to keep up with others'.
- I joined the Third Writers' Platform-Building Campaign over at Rach Writes.
- I read lots of writing mags and some books about writing.

Okay, that list feels rather piddly to me. I know I can do more, do better. I'm not exactly sure what that means or how to do it, but I'll figure it out. There are some fresh notebooks out there with my name on it, just waiting for me...

How about you? How has your summer - or the first part of the year - gone for you? Did you accomplish what you set out to do? Why or why not? Did you do more than you thought you would and if so, how? Any tips or suggestions for how to do more, do better? 

Motivational Monday Quote

OUR BUSINESS IN LIFE IS NOT TO GET AHEAD OF OTHERS,

BUT TO GET AHEAD OF OURSELVES - TO BREAK OUR OWN RECORDS,

TO OUTSTRIP OUR YESTERDAY BY OUR TODAY.

(Stewart B. Johnson)

I'm going to keep this in mind as I work on my goals and resolutions.  It's not about everyone else and what they're doing.  It's about you being a better writer, a better you.  It's about me being a better writer, a better me.  We can all co-exist, we can all cheer each other on, both in person and on the page.  

A Writing Vacation?

When most people think of summer they think of things like vacation/travel, reading on the beach, swimming in the pool, eating ice cream.  I think of all those things, too, but I also think about writing and the goals I'll set for these next six (July-December) months. 

I know, I know.  I should lighten up already, right?  Right...and wrong.   

A story doesn't care if it's June or September - it wants to be told when it wants to be told.  Characters want their say whether it's blizzard season or hurricane season.  Writing doesn't take a vacation - at least for me, it doesn't.  I might shift focus from stories to the novel or vice versa.  I might sit by the pool with my notebook instead of at my desk with the computer.  I might take a writing magazine to the beach instead of just reading it on the couch.  My writing might rev up in July, then ease back in October.

It's a somewhat fluid schedule but it's still a schedule.  A project is always, always in the works, whether it's at the market research, proofing/revising/editing or meeting new characters stage.  And you know what?  I don't think I'd want it any other way. 

Anyone else set any writing goals for the summer?

Stop and Read

One of my favorite photos is of my two-and-a-half year old nephew. He's sitting on the floor, sippy cup by his side. On his lap is an open book, and spread around him, surrounding him, are more books.

On Christmas morning, when most kids went tearing through the wrapping paper and went from one toy to the next, my nephew unwrapped a book and then proceeded to read it right then and there. The other presents could wait. He had a book to read.

I did the same thing myself Christmas morning (just ask my husband!) and it reminded me of the goal of writers everywhere: to make a person stop what they're doing and read our short story, our picture book, our novel.

It's not an easy goal to achieve, but I believe it's worth the effort to at least try for it.

A Journey vs a Short Trip

I think the year is still new enough to talk about goals and/or resolutions. I usually set up my writing goals in 6 month chunks - January to June, July to December.

My novel is the priority. The first draft is done (thank you, NaNoWriMo 2009!) but the long and daunting revision process is ahead. I'm approaching it differently than I have in the past - hopefully with more patience, if nothing else. Novel work often feels like a journey where I can't see the end. It's full of great scenery and amazing people but it also has bumps and turns and dead ends and roundabouts. It took me awhile to figure that out and to settle down into it.

However, I've learned that I also need shorter trips, weekend getaways, where the end is clearly marked. I need blog posts and flash fiction and contests with deadlines, themes and word count limits. I need to feel like I've accomplished something, start to finish.

Do any other writers - or anyone with a long, overhwhelming project in front of them - feel the same way? What works for you?