June is the halfway point, meaning it’s time to look at my goals for 2011, check my progress and reevaluate if necessary.? Failure is for quitters.
Goal 1: I will finish two of my manuscripts and begin seriously seeking publication.
Sadly, I have not finished anything except plenty of blog posts, and even started plotting a new story.? Neither of those two activities has put me in the zone to finish anything.? I did enter a writing contest, but did not place.? So instead of finishing two, I am going to push myself to finish one.? Feel free to send me encouraging messages.
Goal 2: I will read the six books that have been sitting on my night stand taunting me.
I finally got a really nice bookcase for my library, and moved all the books to the library.? Now that they are not taunting me, I did finish reading one, and have begun another.? That leaves me five to go.? I won?t cut any from my list just yet.? Perhaps if I make a point to read for at least 30 minutes each day I?ll get through them and have time for some others before the year is out.
Goal 3: I will write something every day regardless of whether it is for work or a personal project.
This one has proven no difficulty what so ever.? However, I have to admit to counting the writing of grocery lists and writing letters to friends as part of that writing each day. ?Since I?ll be more aware of my first goal to finish one of my manuscripts I?ll be pushing myself to write more substantially each day.
Goal 4: I will deliver the killing blow to some creature in a D&D game.
I can say with all due satisfaction that using a flaming sphere my character killed a diseased troglodyte.? Since then, however, my kills have been zero.? Being a split class character has serious draw backs in the powerful spell department, and the beasties we?ve been facing have been getting more and more difficult to beat.? At this point my character is more likely to go insane than kill anything single handedly.
Goal 5: I will try at least five new blends of coffee while out with a friend.
So far I have had a caramel macchiato, a chai latte, a marble macchiato, and a white chocolate mocha.? I have plans to meet a friend for coffee this Wednesday.? I think that will take care of that.? I?ll still try at least one new blend beyond that should any strike my fancy, but there won?t be any pressure to do so.
Goal 6: I will take at least one kid free mini-vacation.
As I wrote about my trip to WordCamp last month, and it was technically an overnight with my husband, kid free, I?m counting that.? Now if I can get in one night with my gal pals, which just may be in the works, I?ll count that as a double success.
All in all I?d say I?m pretty much on track.? The important thing when making goals is to revisit them and reevaluate as you go, otherwise they are worthless.? How are you doing with your 2011 goals?? It?s not too late to make a few.? What are you working on, or what are you planning to work on before the year it out?
*Photo: Pen and ink by Cast a Line, obtained through Flickr.
Good for you! It sounds like you’re making good progress.
I didn’t really make any goals this year, but I did say that I wanted to take the summer to work on a book proposal with my husband. We have sat down and started to sketch out some ideas. I need to bounce some more thoughts off of people regarding how we do it (like would people rather see clearly delineated his & her sections or have us both just write and blend it all together), but we have begun that.
I also wanted to take a month off from blogging and thanks to my kick-ass readers, it looks like I will have August pretty well free to do some serious writing for other projects. I’m VERY excited about that.
Personally, I want to start the Couch to 5k program over the summer as well. I have NOT worked so much toward actually making that happen yet. Eek!
Kudos to your efforts, Alise! I love that you and your husband are working on a project together. If I may offer a suggestion, I’d say blend when appropriate, but have some clear his and her thoughts laid out. I always find it insightful to see the differing perspectives, while also seeing how they come together, much like a marriage. Hokey, that may be, but there you go. Looking forward to doing my part to allow you that blog free August.
Good for you! I count anything that forms words in coherent structures as writing. I’m also a firm believer that goals should morph and evolve as the year does–who knows what the year brings on January 1? Not I.
Agreed, Sarah. That’s why I like to make goals. Otherwise I’d break out my Magic 8 ball and make predictions. 🙂